The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient reasons and bases for denying service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, bipolar disorder, depression, and alcohol abuse. A new VA examination is required to determine if the Veteran's pre-existing psychiatric disorders were aggravated by active duty service.
The deciding factor: The Board found that there was inadequate reasons and bases for denying service connection due to insufficient findings regarding aggravation of pre-existing psychiatric conditions during service.
- Claimed conditions
- posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), bipolar disorder, depression, alcohol abuse
- How they argued it
- Aggravation of a pre-existing condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 28, 2019
- Citation
- 19150665
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder to ensure a proper examination and etiology opinion are provided.
- 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.
- Granted
The Board granted an effective date of October 17, 2022, for the grant of service connection for PTSD.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for headaches and increased ratings for left shoulder rotator cuff tear, right shoulder rotator cuff tear, hypertension, and left and right leg restless leg syndrome. The Board denied a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder.
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