The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, has been reopened. The Board finds that new and material evidence has been received since the last denial in September 2009. However, further development is needed as there are concerns about the credibility of a previous opinion linking the Veteran's PTSD to military sexual trauma (MST). Additionally, VA examinations are required for increased ratings on lumbar spine disability, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and irritable bowel syndrome, and earlier effective dates. The TDIU claim is also remanded.
The deciding factor: The Board finds that new evidence received since the last denial in September 2009 raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD. However, there are concerns about the credibility of a previous opinion linking the Veteran's PTSD to military sexual trauma (MST). Further development is needed to address these issues.
- Claimed conditions
- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 29, 2023
- Citation
- 23063192
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. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 23063192.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted as the evidence shows a current diagnosis of PTSD, an in-service stressor, and a medical link between the two.
- Denied
The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50% since March 23, 2004. The Board found that a higher rating is not warranted prior to February 15, 2005 due to the severity of his symptoms and their impact on his social and occupational functioning.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and any acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between his current mental health conditions and his military service.
- Granted
The Veteran's PTSD resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 70% disability rating. The Veteran also met the criteria for a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.
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