The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for his acquired psychiatric disorder, including depressive disorder, and entitlement to a total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) are remanded due to the need to consider both former and current rating criteria.
The deciding factor: The effective date cannot be earlier than October 17, 1996 as there is no evidence of a claim prior to that date. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder must be rated under both former and current diagnostic criteria for mental disorders.
- Claimed conditions
- Acquired psychiatric disorder (including depressive disorder)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 30, 2019
- Citation
- 19133560
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.
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