The Board has reopened the service connection claim for a left knee disability and remanded both issues of service connection. The major depressive disorder issue is also remanded to obtain clarification on the severity and nature of symptoms.
The deciding factor: New evidence received since the final January 2012 rating decision raised a reasonable possibility of substantiating the service connection claim for the left knee disability, thus reopening it. Both issues are remanded as additional medical opinions are needed to clarify the nature and severity of the Veteran's psychiatric symptoms.
- Claimed conditions
- left knee strain, major depressive disorder
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 22, 2019
- Citation
- 19180188
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 service connection for left knee strain, right knee strain, right wrist strain, and TBI. The Veteran's PTSD rating was remanded for further development.
- Dismissed
The claim for an earlier effective date for service connection for major depressive disorder is dismissed as moot because the earliest effective date was granted during the pendency of this appeal.
- Remanded (sent back)
The appeal is remanded to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors, including the failure to obtain relevant treatment records and provide adequate VA examinations.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for multiple conditions, including an acquired psychiatric disorder, sleep apnea, hypertension, and various musculoskeletal and skin disabilities.
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