The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is denied as there is no current diagnosis of such a condition. The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for degenerative changes of the lumbar spine is also denied due to lack of evidence showing limitation of motion or ankylosis that would warrant a higher rating.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence does not support a current diagnosis of an acquired psychiatric disorder, and there is no evidence of functional impairment from the Veteran's degenerative changes of the lumbar spine during the appeal period.
- Claimed conditions
- Acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD), Degenerative changes of the lumbar spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- September 11, 2018
- Citation
- 18133869
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 18133869.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD; left shoulder disability; and right shoulder disability. The Veteran did not meet the current disability requirement or provide sufficient evidence to support a link between his military service and these conditions.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for a thoracolumbar spine disability, finding that the VA examination and opinion were inadequate as they did not consider the Veteran's complete medical history. The case is now to be reviewed with an addendum VA opinion.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal was dismissed because the Board Appeal request was not timely filed with respect to the June 14, 2023 rating decision that decreased the rating for degenerative changes of the lumbar spine to 20 percent effective September 1, 2023.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disability and an acquired psychiatric disability, but remanded the issue of entitlement to service connection for tinnitus.
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