The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and Generalized Anxiety Disorder (claimed as Panic Disorder), is related to his military service. The examiner will need to provide an addendum opinion on this issue.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner noted that there are no documented mental health complaints in the Veteran's service treatment records and that he did not meet the diagnostic criteria for PTSD, but was diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder. The remand is necessary to determine if his current psychiatric condition is related to service or a service-connected disability.
- Claimed conditions
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 18, 2019
- Citation
- 19130658
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 Board granted service connection for PTSD, generalized anxiety disorder, and somatic symptom disorder, as well as presumptive service connection for basal cell carcinoma under the PACT Act. Service connection was denied for chronic fatigue syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome, right restless leg syndrome, left restless leg syndrome, an increased rating for psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, a left forehead surgical scar, and allergic rhinitis.
- 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 a staged disability rating of 70 percent for the service-connected generalized anxiety disorder from January 8, 2024, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.
- Granted
The Board granted an effective date of July 12, 2022, for a 70 percent rating for posttraumatic stress disorder.
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This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.