The Board has granted service connection for chronic depression, but the claims for cardiac dysfunction and residuals of hypothermia are remanded due to incomplete records.
The deciding factor: Incomplete medical records prevent a determination on the merits of the claims.
- Claimed conditions
- chronic depression, cardiac dysfunction, residuals of hypothermia
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 24, 2020
- Citation
- 20042839
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 20042839.
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.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the issue of entitlement to service connection for chronic depression.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal prior to the Board making a decision.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to a lack of medical evidence linking his psychiatric disorder, which is believed to be related to his military service, to his suicide.
- Dismissed
The Veteran has withdrawn the appeal for service connection of multiple conditions, including bipolar disorder, PTSD, chronic depression, chronic anxiety, sleep disorder, degenerative disc disease, left knee meniscal tear, and substance abuse-alcohol.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.