The Board denied service connection for PTSD and a lumbar spine disability, finding that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for these conditions. The Board also remanded issues related to prostate cancer compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 and lower extremity disabilities.,Service connection was not granted for PTSD due to lack of current diagnosis and no evidence linking it to service. Service connection was denied for a lumbar spine disability because there was no chronic in-service injury or disease, and the Veteran's symptoms did not manifest within one year post-service.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for PTSD as he did not have a current diagnosis of PTSD. The Board also found that his lumbar spine disability was not related to service due to lack of chronicity in service and no evidence linking it to service.,Service connection cannot be granted because there is no link between the Veteran's current conditions and his active service.
- Claimed conditions
- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Lumbar Spine Disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 16, 2020
- Citation
- 20003603
What this means for you
A remand is not a loss. The Board sent the case back for more development — often a new exam or missing records — before making a final decision. Many remands later end in a grant, and the decision spells out exactly what the Board wanted to see.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD due to an inadequate medical opinion.
- Granted
The Board granted an effective date of February 21, 2007, for the award of service connection for PTSD and major depressive disorder with anxious distress.
- Granted
The Board granted a rating of 70 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injury (TBI), as the Veteran's symptoms most nearly approximated occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.
- Granted
The Board granted a disability rating of 70 percent for PTSD and a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU) based on the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.