The appeal for a higher initial disability rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD with major depressive disorder NOS and alcohol abuse is remanded due to worsening symptoms.
The deciding factor: The Veteran testified that her mental health symptoms have worsened since the last VA examination, warranting a new evaluation.
- Claimed conditions
- PTSD with major depressive disorder NOS, alcohol abuse
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 2, 2018
- Citation
- 18139994
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 18139994.
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 remands the claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and alcohol abuse as secondary to posttraumatic stress disorder for further development, including obtaining medical opinions on the etiology of these conditions.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands all claims for service connection and a compensable disability rating due to the failure of the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ) to properly obtain relevant private medical records prior to making a decision on appeal.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, loss of use of bodily organs, hair loss, hearing loss, and other conditions. Some claims were remanded for further development.
- Dismissed
The Board denied the veteran's appeal for service connection for alcohol abuse, fatigue and PTSD under 38 U.S.C. chapter 17 as the appeal was not timely filed.
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