The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient opinion regarding whether the Veteran's major depressive disorder is related to his service-connected conditions, specifically migraines, hearing loss, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), left side tinnitus, pseudofolliculitis barbae, and hemorrhoids associated with IBS.
The deciding factor: The Board found that there was insufficient opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's major depressive disorder and his service-connected conditions, necessitating a new examination to address this issue.
- Claimed conditions
- major depressive disorder, migraines, hearing loss, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), left side tinnitus, pseudofolliculitis barbae, hemorrhoids associated with IBS
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 18, 2019
- Citation
- 19104721
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.
- Partly granted
The Veteran was granted a 70 percent initial disability rating for PTSD effective December 2, 2021, but the claim for an increased rating in excess of 70 percent was denied. The appeal also included claims for service connection and ratings for various conditions, some of which were granted while others were remanded.
- Dismissed
The claim for an earlier effective date for service connection for major depressive disorder is dismissed as moot because the earliest effective date was granted during the pendency of this appeal.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for multiple conditions, including an acquired psychiatric disorder, sleep apnea, hypertension, and various musculoskeletal and skin disabilities.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a 50 percent rating for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and denied increased ratings for right shoulder impingement syndrome, hearing loss, painful scar, patellofemoral pain syndromes of the knees, and other conditions.
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