The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's depression/dysthymia is related to service or his service-connected heart disease.
The deciding factor: The Federal Circuit recently ruled that lay evidence can be considered in secondary service connection cases, and the Veteran's claim must now be reconsidered under this new interpretation of law.
- Claimed conditions
- depression/dysthymia
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- June 23, 2010
- Citation
- 1023434
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 1023434.
What this means for you
A remand sends an issue back for more development, often a new examination or missing records. It does not award the benefit or decide the final outcome. The original decision explains the additional work ordered.
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: Granted
The Veteran's appeal to reopen service connection for depression/dysthymia was granted.,The Veteran's appeals to reopen service connection for a nervous disorder, chronic bilateral dislocation of the sternoclavicular joints, lumbosacral strain, right foot pes planus, and left foot pes planus were all denied.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board found that depression/dysthymia was not incurred in or aggravated by service and denied the claim. The PTSD issue is addressed separately.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case for compliance with VCAA requirements and to obtain an independent medical examination regarding the veteran's fibromyalgia.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's headaches are at least as likely as not caused by his service-connected traumatic brain injury, and thus grants service connection for this condition.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
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.