The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include as secondary to service-connected traumatic brain injury (TBI), and for a higher rating for cervical spine strain due to inadequate medical opinions.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the provided medical opinions were not adequate for rating purposes and required additional opinions addressing the nature and etiology of all prior diagnosed psychiatric disorders, on both a direct and secondary basis, as well as the severity of functional impairment during flare-ups since June 2009.
- Claimed conditions
- anxiety, alcohol use disorder, mood disorder due to TBI, unspecified bipolar disorder
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 8, 2021
- Citation
- 21013043
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 21013043.
What this means for you
A remand sends an issue back for more development, often a new examination or missing records. It does not award the benefit or decide the final outcome. The original decision explains the additional work ordered.
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 case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's psychiatric condition, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety. The Veteran is seeking service connection for these conditions.
- Granted
The Board has granted the claims for service connection for anxiety, depression, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), finding that new and relevant evidence supports these claims.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, along with alcohol use disorder, has been granted a 100% evaluation effective from April 8, 2021. The disability causes total occupational and social impairment.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, major depression, generalized anxiety disorder, insomnia and alcohol use disorder caused his sleep apnea.
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