The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for depression is being remanded due to the lack of recent medical evidence and a need for a new VA examination.
The deciding factor: Recent medical records are needed to assess the current severity and functional impairment of the Veteran's depression.
- Claimed conditions
- depression not otherwise specified (NOS)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 4, 2018
- Citation
- 18108297
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 18108297.
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 issue related to the Veteran's status and a need for clarification from his representative.
- Denied
The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a compensable disability rating for his hemorrhoids or bilateral onychocryptosis, and that he failed to establish service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder due to lack of verification of the stressor upon which PTSD diagnosis was based.
- Granted
The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including psychotic disorder, depression NOS and anxiety NOS, is found to be proximately due to his service-connected PTSD. Therefore, the claim for secondary service connection is granted.
- Granted
The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including depression NOS, anxiety disorder NOS, mood disorder NOS, MDD, and alcohol use disorder, are found to be causally related to his service-connected PTSD.
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.