The Board has granted the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder as secondary to a service-connected disability or disabilities. The case is remanded for further development regarding the nature and etiology of any acquired psychiatric disorder, and whether the cervical spine arthritis is aggravated by left shoulder impingement syndrome.
The deciding factor: The Board found that new evidence submitted since the last final denial supports reopening the claim but did not provide a basis for granting service connection. The case is remanded to obtain an opinion on the nature of any acquired psychiatric disorder and whether it is secondary to service-connected disabilities, as well as an opinion on whether cervical spine arthritis is aggravated by left shoulder impingement syndrome.
- Claimed conditions
- Psychosis NOS, Depressive Disorder NOS, Cannabis Dependence in Remission, Cocaine Dependence in Remission, Paranoid Personality Disorder
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- June 4, 2018
- Citation
- 18107466
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 18107466.
What this means for you
A remand sends an issue back for more development, often a new examination or missing records. It does not award the benefit or decide the final outcome. The original decision explains the additional work ordered.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Partly granted
The Board granted readjudication of the previously denied claim for service connection for PTSD and adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depression, but denied a compensable disability rating for left ring finger ankylosis at proximal interphalangeal joint. The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder was remanded.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty-to-assist error and requires additional development, including an addendum VA medical opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed psychiatric condition.
- Granted
The Board granted an earlier effective date of November 3, 2010, for the award of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD.
- Denied
The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent, but the Board finds that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.
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