The Board has remanded the claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including as secondary to service-connected left knee disability, due to insufficient consideration of whether the Veteran's depression was aggravated by his service-connected left knee disability.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner did not adequately address whether the Veteran’s major depressive disorder was aggravated by the post-service worsening of his service-connected left knee disability.
- Claimed conditions
- Acquired psychiatric disorder (major depressive disorder)
- How they argued it
- Aggravation of a pre-existing condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 18, 2021
- Citation
- 21008830
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 21008830.
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 is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to his service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder, effective July 14, 2020. He is also granted special monthly compensation (SMC) at the housebound rate for the same period.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and chronic sinusitis, finding both conditions to be secondary to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the issues of an earlier effective date, initial rating, and TDIU for further development.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding it to be etiologically related to the Veteran's military service.
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