The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition and sleep apnea due to incomplete compliance with prior remand directives. The Veteran's current psychiatric conditions, including PTSD, anxiety disorder, bipolar disorder, schizoaffective disorder, dysthymic disorder, and depressive disorder, are being evaluated in light of his lay statements regarding service experiences. If service connection is granted for an acquired psychiatric condition, the claim for sleep apnea will also be remanded to determine if it is caused or aggravated by the psychiatric condition.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the prior examination did not address all current psychiatric conditions present during the pendency of this appeal and thus required a new addendum opinion. The decision also noted that the Veteran's sleep apnea may be secondary to his diagnosed psychiatric disorder, necessitating further development for both claims.
- Claimed conditions
- PTSD, anxiety disorder, bipolar disorder, schizoaffective disorder, dysthymic disorder, depressive disorder
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 10, 2021
- Citation
- 21013622
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 21013622.
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 Board of Veterans' Appeals has granted service connection for PTSD and Mood Disorders, both presumed conditions under the PACT Act.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including bipolar disorder and PTSD. The Veteran will be asked to provide additional medical records and undergo a VA examination.
- Partly granted
The Board has not made a final determination on the claims of service connection for inguinal hernia, PTSD, joint pain, fibromyalgia, left knee disability, right knee disability, tinnitus, chronic fatigue syndrome, respiratory disability, sleep disorder, IBS, and headaches. The claims are remanded to obtain additional evidence and determine if these conditions are related to service.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension and increased rating for anxiety disorder have been denied. The Board found that there is no evidence of a current disability meeting the criteria for hypertension, and the Veteran's anxiety disorder does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.
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