The Board has remanded the case for a new VA psychiatric examination to clarify whether the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, claimed as depression, is related to his service-connected hepatitis C or due to non-service connected osteoarthritis.
The deciding factor: The examiner needs to distinguish between the arthralgias associated with the service-connected hepatitis C and the joint pain associated with non-service-connected osteoarthritis in determining the etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability.
- Claimed conditions
- acquired psychiatric disability, claimed as depression
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 19, 2013
- Citation
- 1323163
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 1323163.
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 claims for readjudication due to new and relevant evidence being received.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated VA records and scheduling a medical examination. The TDIU issue will be reconsidered after addressing the newly raised claim of service connection for acquired psychiatric disability.
- 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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hypertension and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.
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.