The Board has remanded the case due to issues related to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including unspecified depressive disorder and unspecified anxiety disorder. The Veteran contends that his current psychiatric disorders are related to in-service personal assault and artillery rounds. The VA must provide heightened notice regarding potential personal assault stressors and obtain all relevant records. An addendum opinion is needed from a VA examiner to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's psychiatric disorders.
The deciding factor: The case was remanded due to issues related to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including unspecified depressive disorder and unspecified anxiety disorder, with potential personal assault stressors requiring heightened notice and additional evidence collection.
- Claimed conditions
- unspecified depressive disorder, unspecified anxiety disorder
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 27, 2020
- Citation
- 20029284
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 20029284.
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 Veteran's service-connected unspecified anxiety disorder alone warrants a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU), and he has additional service-connected disabilities rated at least 60 percent. The Board grants special monthly compensation (SMC) at the housebound rate.
- Granted
The Veteran's anxiety and depressive disorders were rated at a 70 percent disability rating effective May 6, 2015.,Effective May 6, 2015, the Veteran was granted an earlier effective date for DEA benefits.
- Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's current unspecified depressive disorder is related to his service-connected disabilities, and thus grants service connection for this condition.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected unspecified depressive disorder with insomnia disorder is rated at 30 percent, and the Board has determined that this rating is not sufficient to reflect his disability picture.
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