The Board has determined that additional development is required to determine if the Veteran had a major depressive disorder and/or PTSD in February 2005, which would affect the effective date of service connection. The issues of an earlier effective date and initial disability rating for Major Depressive Disorder and PTSD are also remanded.
The deciding factor: The Board cannot ascertain if a grant of service connection effective February 2005 is appropriate due to insufficient development in the record regarding the Veteran's mental health conditions at that time.
- Claimed conditions
- Major Depressive Disorder, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 18, 2019
- Citation
- 19130344
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.
- Granted
The Veteran was granted a disability rating of 70 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder and major depressive disorder, effective October 24, 2017. The Board also granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability due to the need for a more comprehensive medical examination and opinion.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to an unclear employment history and a pre-decisional duty to assist error.
- Granted
The Board granted an effective date of July 12, 2022, for a 70 percent rating for posttraumatic stress disorder.
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