The Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 70 percent for persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia) is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination and additional treatment records.
The deciding factor: The decision was remanded because the Veteran did not provide VA with his private mental health practitioner's records, which are necessary to assess the current severity of his service-connected condition.
- Claimed conditions
- persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 70%
- Decision date
- September 14, 2018
- Citation
- 18135465
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 18135465.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for persistent depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and bilateral hearing loss as the evidence of record did not support a finding that these conditions were related to the Veteran's active service.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for generalized anxiety disorder, persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia), pain left great toe, and sleep apnea but denied increased ratings for the veteran's shoulder strain, thumb strain, wrist ganglion cyst, wrist scar, and painful scar.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the issues of entitlement to increased ratings for major depressive disorder, persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia), and unspecified anxiety disorder; gouty ankle and knees; and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia) based on a private medical opinion and the Veteran's reported experiences during service.
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