The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder, finding that there was no current diagnosis of PTSD and concluding that his depression was not caused by or incurred in service.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not establish a current disability for PTSD and the Board concluded that the Veteran’s depression was more likely related to personal stressors and legal battles rather than military service.
- Claimed conditions
- Acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and major depressive disorder)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- June 7, 2019
- Citation
- 19144153
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,435 · Granted: 22% (granted or partly granted, in the indexed decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 19144153.
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 Veteran's claims for compensable initial ratings for left and right foot hammer toes, as well as service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and major depressive disorder), were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of current disability related to these conditions.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, is granted service connection. The claim for hysterectomy secondary to fibroids and left ovarian cyst is remanded.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, muscle injury, left and right knee conditions are all granted service connection. The Veteran's PTSD is related to his in-service work as a mortuary affairs specialist. His muscle injury is related to the run during an Army Physical Fitness Test. However, his left and right knee conditions do not have sufficient evidence linking them to service.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, right ear hearing loss, and asthma due to inadequate medical opinions regarding their etiology. The Veteran's claims are being returned for further development.
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