The Board is remanding the case to obtain additional medical records and conduct a VA examination. The Veteran's claim for service connection for his psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.
The deciding factor: The current opinion from the April 2011 VA examiner was inadequate as it did not address the pertinent complaints and findings contained in the Veteran's service treatment records or provide an opinion regarding whether the Veteran's psychiatric disorder(s) were caused or aggravated by his service-connected degenerative spondylosis of the lumbar spine.
- Claimed conditions
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Major Depressive Disorder, Anxiety Disorder, Schizoaffective Disorder, Substance-Induced Mood Disorder
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 11, 2017
- Citation
- 1745011
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 1745011.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's major depressive disorder is found to be caused by his service-connected low back and radiculopathy disabilities, which prevent him from doing enjoyable activities and daily living tasks.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for PTSD and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a new VA examination.
- Denied
The Veteran's initial ratings for anxiety disorder and TBI were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.
- Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's erectile dysfunction is secondary to his service-connected major depressive disorder, and thus grants service connection for this condition.
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