The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include major depressive disorder. The Veteran contends his depression is related to his service or secondary to his service-connected diabetes and bilateral upper and lower neuropathy.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner found no relation between the service-connected physical conditions (neuropathies) and the Veteran's neuropsychiatric condition, stating that the Veteran's service-connected conditions proceeded the Veteran's neuropsychiatric condition, which precludes aggravation.
- Claimed conditions
- Acquired Psychiatric Disorder (Major Depressive Disorder)
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 17, 2021
- Citation
- 21029989
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 21029989.
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.
- Partly granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder was denied, but he was granted service connection for Major Depressive Disorder on the basis that it is secondary to his service-connected disabilities.
- Denied
The Veteran's migraine headaches are rated at 30 percent prior to May 6, 2022 and 50 percent beginning on that date. The Veteran is granted service connection for major depressive disorder and secondary service connection for obstructive sleep apnea.,Service connection for coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus type II remains pending as the claims are remanded.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has withdrawn the claim for increased rating for erectile dysfunction and remanded the claims of service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as depression) and coronary artery disease with angina. The case is being returned to the RO for further development.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hepatitis C and major depressive disorder due to insufficient evidence regarding their onset during service.
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