The Board has ordered a remand to clarify the nature and cause of any diagnosed psychiatric disability during the pendency of the claim, specifically addressing the Veteran's lay and buddy statements.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner failed to comply with the Board's instructions regarding the diagnoses found during the pendency of the appeal and their relation to service.
- Claimed conditions
- Alcohol Use Disorder-Moderate, Unspecified Depressive Disorder with Anxious Distress
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 4, 2022
- Citation
- 22006587
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 22006587.
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's PTSD is rated at 70 percent effective December 16, 2017. Earlier effective dates are granted for a 100 percent disability rating for unspecified depressive disorder with anxious distress and mild alcohol use disorder, as well as eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance under 38 USC chapter 35.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that the Veteran meets the eligibility criteria for PCAFC benefits due to his service-connected disabilities and need for personal care services. However, further evaluation is needed to determine if it is in the best interest of the Veteran to participate in the program.
- Granted
The Veteran's PTSD is related to the military sexual trauma (MST) experienced in service, and the Board has granted service connection for PTSD.
- Granted
The Veteran's PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder with anxious distress is rated at a 50 percent disability rating, but the Board has granted an initial 70 percent disability rating based on more severe symptoms.
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