The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety, depression, personality disorder, and learning disorder, is being remanded due to the need for further development regarding the diagnosis of PTSD under DSM-V criteria and the potential superimposition of a diagnosed psychiatric disorder on his preexisting personality and/or learning disorders.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's claim requires additional development to determine if he meets the diagnostic criteria for PTSD under DSM-V, as well as whether any currently diagnosed psychiatric disorder is etiologically related to service. Additionally, an opinion regarding the potential superimposition of a diagnosed psychiatric disorder on his preexisting personality and/or learning disorders must be provided.
- Claimed conditions
- anxiety disorder, depression, personality disorder, learning disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 2, 2018
- Citation
- 1826694
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 1826694.
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 Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension and increased rating for anxiety disorder have been denied. The Board found that there is no evidence of a current disability meeting the criteria for hypertension, and the Veteran's anxiety disorder does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining in-service psychiatric treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any acquired psychiatric disorder.
- Denied
The Veteran's depression was rated at 50 percent prior to July 1, 2016. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating due to occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity. For TDIU, the Veteran had multiple service-connected disabilities but his education and work experience were sufficient for sedentary or light labor employment.
- Granted
The Veteran's depression was rated at 50 percent prior to September 27, 2017. From September 27, 2017, the rating for depression increased to 70 percent.
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