The Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder are being remanded for further evaluation, including a retrospective medical opinion on the severity of his disabilities prior to November 13, 2018. The TDIU issue is also being remanded due to its inextricably intertwined nature with the increased rating claim.
The deciding factor: The Board finds that a retrospective medical opinion is necessary to determine the severity of the Veteran’s various service-connected disabilities and their functional limitations for the period prior to November 13, 2018.
- Claimed conditions
- Major depressive disorder, Generalized anxiety disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 26, 2019
- Citation
- 19149924
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 Board granted initial ratings of 40 percent for lumbar spine disorder, 70 percent for major depressive disorder, and 40 percent for left lower extremity radiculopathy. TDIU and SMC based on housebound status were also granted.
- Granted
The Board granted an effective date of May 9, 2022, for the grant of service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder with generalized anxiety disorder, other specified depressive disorder, and alcohol use disorder.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, currently diagnosed as other specified trauma and stressor related disorder and major depressive disorder.
- Denied
The Board denied an increased rating higher than 70 percent for the Veteran's psychiatric disorder, finding that his symptoms did not more closely approximate total occupational and social impairment.
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