The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions and scheduling VA examinations to address the issues of service connection for a psychiatric disorder and an increased rating for his lumbar spine disability.
The deciding factor: The case requires further examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorder and his service-connected lumbar spine disability due to potential aggravation or causation.
- Claimed conditions
- acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder, degenerative joint disease and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 20, 2013
- Citation
- 1326440
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 1326440.
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 Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantial gainful employment, warranting a TDIU effective December 20, 2000. The Board also remanded the issue of whether a TDIU is warranted prior to December 20, 2000.
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The Board has restored the reduced ratings for left and right lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy, but has remanded other claims including evaluations for ankle fracture, lumbar spine condition, knee conditions, and TDIU.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected lumbar spine disability is being remanded due to the need for updated VA examinations and medical records.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for gout secondary to his service-connected foot disabilities. The case is remanded for further development, including obtaining an addendum from the October 2014 VA examiner and scheduling a VA examination of the Veteran's spine disability.
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