The Board has expanded the claim to include dementia and depressive disorder, as well as PTSD. The VA examiner found that the Veteran's symptoms did not meet the criteria for PTSD but diagnosed him with dementia not otherwise specified. However, no opinion was provided regarding whether this condition is related to service. Therefore, remand is required to obtain private treatment records from Dr. B. Khan and C.F., and to provide a VA medical opinion on the relationship between the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders and his military service.
The deciding factor: The Board found that no VA examiner had provided an opinion regarding whether the Veteran's dementia not otherwise specified is related to service, as required by law.
- Claimed conditions
- dementia not otherwise specified, depressive disorder not otherwise specified
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 22, 2020
- Citation
- 20004974
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,088 · Granted: 33% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 20004974.
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 has remanded the case due to a failure to obtain a VA examination regarding the Veteran's claimed psychiatric disability. The Veteran is seeking service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, which may include depression or depressive disorder not otherwise specified.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the issues of entitlement to a rating in excess of 50 percent for an acquired psychiatric disorder and entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, secondary to service-connected spinal stenosis with spondylolisthesis, and TDIU due to lack of substantial compliance with prior remand directives. The Veteran must be provided VA medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of her previously diagnosed psychiatric disabilities, as well as obtain private treatment records and complete a TDIU application form.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including depressive disorder and knee conditions, caused him to need regular aid and attendance. The Board granted special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for aid and attendance.
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