The Board has determined that additional efforts should be made to address the nature and etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety, and whether they are related to his in-service stressor.
The deciding factor: The May 2017 VA examiner provided a negative nexus opinion based on speculation, and the Board finds that additional efforts should be made to address this issue.
- Claimed conditions
- Acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), Adjustment Disorder with Anxiety and Depressed Mood, Unspecified depressive disorder, unspecified trauma and stress related disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 27, 2020
- Citation
- 20021894
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 20021894.
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 Veteran's claims for sleep apnea and acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) due to insufficient evidence of record. The Veteran is required to undergo VA examinations to determine if his conditions are related to service.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disability, characterized as PTSD and alcohol use disorder, is now rated at 70 percent. The rating will be effective from the date of the April 2023 VA decision.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to duty-to-assist errors and insufficient medical opinions. The issues include PTSD, neck disorder, back disorder, left-hand disorder, bilateral foot disorders, and bilateral knee disorders.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for his service-connected psychiatric disability was granted, with an initial 50% rating prior to July 11, 2022, and a 70% rating beginning on that date. The case is remanded due to the need for further development regarding TDIU.
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