The Board has determined that the VA Regional Office (RO) did not fulfill its duty to notify and assist the appellant in connection with his claim for an increased rating for PTSD. The RO is instructed to provide VCAA notice, obtain medical records from the Brecksville VA Medical Center, request Social Security Administration records, and schedule a comprehensive VA psychiatric examination.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the VA did not comply with the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000 (VCAA) by failing to notify the appellant of his rights under VCAA and by not providing him with adequate assistance in obtaining relevant evidence. The RO is instructed to take these actions.
- Claimed conditions
- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 9, 2003
- Citation
- 0327018
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 0327018.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied an initial disability rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD, finding the appellant's symptoms did not more closely approximate occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.
- 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 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.
- 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.
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