The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration, including obtaining an addendum opinion regarding the likely etiology of the acquired psychiatric disorder (other than PTSD). The examiner must provide opinions on whether the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder clearly and unmistakably preexisted service and was not worsened by service. Additionally, the examiner should consider whether it is at least as likely as not that the acquired psychiatric disorder was caused or aggravated by one or more service-connected disabilities, specifically to include the service-connected residuals of a spontaneous pneumothorax of the right lung.
The deciding factor: The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration, including obtaining an addendum opinion regarding the likely etiology of the acquired psychiatric disorder (other than PTSD). The examiner must provide opinions on whether the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder clearly and unmistakably preexisted service and was not worsened by service. Additionally, the examiner should consider whether it is at least as likely as not that the acquired psychiatric disorder was caused or aggravated by one or more service-connected disabilities, specifically to include the service-connected residuals of a spontaneous pneumothorax of the right lung.
- Claimed conditions
- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, to include Major Depressive Disorder, Dysthymic Disorder and a Mood Disorder
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 9, 2020
- Citation
- 20039158
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 20039158.
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 claim for service connection for PTSD is granted as the evidence shows a current diagnosis of PTSD, an in-service stressor, and a medical link between the two.
- Denied
The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50% since March 23, 2004. The Board found that a higher rating is not warranted prior to February 15, 2005 due to the severity of his symptoms and their impact on his social and occupational functioning.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and any acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between his current mental health conditions and his military service.
- Granted
The Veteran's PTSD resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 70% disability rating. The Veteran also met the criteria for a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.
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