The Board has remanded several claims for further review, including those related to anxiety disorder and cervical spine disability. The Veteran's psychiatric condition is currently rated at 50 percent from January 13, 2022, but the claim is being remanded due to inadequate examination findings.
The deciding factor: The Board found that a new psychiatric examination was warranted to address the nature and severity of the Veteran's psychiatric disability over the entire claim period, including any intervals of greater or lesser disability.
- Claimed conditions
- Anxiety Disorder, Degenerative Joint Disease (left thumb), Degenerative Joint Disease (left long finger), Degenerative Joint Disease (left index finger), Degenerative Joint Disease (left ring finger), Degenerative Joint Disease (left little finger)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 5, 2022
- Citation
- 22038142
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 22038142.
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.
- Denied
The Veteran's initial ratings for anxiety disorder and TBI were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.
- Denied
The Board denied eligibility to attorney fees based on past-due benefits awarded in a March 2024 rating decision because the March 2024 rating decision was an initial decision granting service connection for anxiety disorder.
- Granted
The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted, and service connection for IBS as secondary to anxiety disorder is granted. Service connection for non-Hodgkin lymphoma is denied due to lack of presumptive basis. Service connection for CHF with bradycardia and pacemaker as secondary to hypertension is granted.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected major depression and anxiety disorder are considered part of his service-connected peripheral neuropathy, which already qualifies him for SMC(l). Therefore, he is not eligible for a higher rate of SMC.
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