The Board has granted service connection for an unspecified depressive disorder, but has remanded the cases of coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus type II due to lack of evidence regarding exposure to herbicides in Vietnam.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's symptoms are linked to his military service, including witnessing a fellow sailor being sucked into an intake during service. The Board found that these symptoms had their onset in service.
- Claimed conditions
- {"condition_name":"Unspecified depressive disorder"}, {"condition_name":"Coronary artery disease (CAD)"}, {"condition_name":"Diabetes mellitus type II"}
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 14, 2020
- Citation
- 20002592
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 obstructive sleep apnea, effective from the date of the February 2025 rating decision.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a medical examination to determine if the Veteran's current neck strain is related to his in-service activities.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD due to an inadequate medical opinion.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for myasthenia gravis based on the Veteran's exposure to hazardous substances during his military service.
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