The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's current acquired psychiatric disorder is related to his in-service wrist-cutting injury or in-service complaints/treatment for a psychiatric condition. The case will be returned for further development.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner needs to provide an opinion on whether it is at least as likely as not that any acquired psychiatric disorder is related to the Veteran's in-service wrist-cutting injury or in-service complaints/treatment for a psychiatric condition.
- Claimed conditions
- anxiety, cognitive DO unspecified, unspecified anxiety DO, mild cognitive disorder, personality change due to organic DO, alcohol use DO in early remission, cocaine dependence with cocaine induced anxiety, schizophrenic, paranoid and other psychotic DOs, organic mental DOs (chronic brain syndrome), substance induced mood DO, antisocial personality DO with borderline features
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 12, 2021
- Citation
- 21042358
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 21042358.
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.
- 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.
- Denied
The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and anxiety, finding that there is no evidence of an in-service incurrence or onset of these conditions.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty to assist error, requiring an additional medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder.
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.