The Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 40 percent for traumatic brain injury (TBI) with persistent depressive disorder and moderate anxiety distress is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a new VA examination.
The deciding factor: The current medical evidence is inadequate for determining the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected TBI with persistent depressive disorder with moderate anxiety distress as it does not consider the full range of his symptomatology, to include both disabilities when taken together.
- Claimed conditions
- Traumatic Brain Injury, Persistent Depressive Disorder, Moderate Anxiety Distress
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 13, 2020
- Citation
- 20012320
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 20012320.
What this means for you
A remand sends an issue back for more development, often a new examination or missing records. It does not award the benefit or decide the final outcome. The original decision explains the additional work ordered.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Veteran's initial ratings for anxiety disorder and TBI were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for persistent depressive disorder with anxious distress was granted, effective January 17, 2024. The Board has now granted an earlier effective date of May 31, 2019.
- Granted
The Board granted entitlement to SMC under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(t) effective January 21, 2019, based on the appellant's need for regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected TBI.
- Granted
The Veteran's persistent depressive disorder is rated at 70 percent, the highest available rating under the General Formula for Mental Disorders. The other issues have been denied.
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