The Board is remanding the case to obtain private medical records from a mental health facility where the Veteran was hospitalized shortly before his death, and any law enforcement records related to an investigation into his suicide. The appellant's claim for service connection for the cause of her husband's death will be reconsidered based on this additional evidence.
The deciding factor: The Board needs to obtain relevant medical records to support or refute the appellant's claims regarding the Veteran's mental health issues and their potential impact on his decision to take his own life.
- Claimed conditions
- mental unsoundness
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 28, 2013
- Citation
- 1327592
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 1327592.
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 has remanded the case due to incomplete service and medical records, which may contain information regarding the Veteran's in-service injury. The appellant is seeking service connection for the cause of the Veteran’s death.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has found new and material evidence to reopen the claim of service connection for the cause of the veteran's death. The case is being remanded for further review.
- Granted
The Board has determined that the veteran's death was due to mental unsoundness incurred during active duty, and service connection for the cause of death is granted.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and providing proper notice regarding secondary service connection.
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