The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disorder claimed as a Tarlov cyst is being reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence.,The Veteran has not yet been evaluated for her left ankle disorder. A VA examination will be scheduled to determine if she has a current diagnosis and whether it is related to service.,A VA psychiatric examination will be conducted to address the nature and etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD due to military sexual trauma (MST), depression, and anxiety.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for her seizure disorder will be evaluated with consideration given to whether it was aggravated by service. A VA examination will be scheduled to determine if this is the case.,A VA examination will be conducted to determine the nature of the Veteran's insomnia and its relationship to any diagnosed psychiatric disorders.
The deciding factor: New evidence has been submitted that relates to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim for service connection for a back disorder, specifically her Tarlov cyst.,The Veteran needs further evaluation by VA to determine if she currently has a left ankle condition and whether it is related to service.,A comprehensive psychiatric examination will be conducted to address all of the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD due to MST, depression, anxiety, and insomnia.,The Veteran's seizure disorder may have been aggravated by service. A VA examination will be scheduled to determine if this is the case.,A VA examination will be conducted to determine the nature of the Veteran's insomnia and its relationship to any diagnosed psychiatric disorders.
- Claimed conditions
- Seizure Disorder, Left Ankle Disorder, Lupus, Psychiatric Disorder, Insomnia, Back Disorder
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 8, 2017
- Citation
- 1720643
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 1720643.
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 an inadequate opinion regarding the relationship between any current acquired psychiatric disorder and service, specifically a claimed in-service personal assault. The Veteran's contentions are that he did not report or seek treatment for this assault because he feared it would complicate his discharge.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for a separate disability rating for insomnia is denied as it is subsumed under his service-connected PTSD.,The effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD is denied as no new and material evidence was submitted within one year of the July 1986 denial, making the June 9, 2017, claim without legal merit.,The effective date for the grant of service connection for OSA is denied as no new and material evidence was submitted within one year of the April 2013 denial, making the June 9, 2017, claim without legal merit.
- Granted
The Veteran's service connection claim for insomnia is granted as the evidence supports a finding that his current insomnia began during and has continued since service, and was at least as likely as not caused by service.
- Granted
The Board has granted a 70 percent disability rating for the Veteran's service-connected MDD, including insomnia and anxiety disorder, effective from November 13, 2024. The decision concludes that the Veteran's symptoms have most nearly approximated occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.
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.