The Board has decided to remand the case due to deficiencies in the prior opinions regarding the Veteran's psychiatric disorders. The VA examiner needs to provide more rationale and citation to supporting evidence for each diagnosed condition, address the continuity of symptoms over time, and consider other relevant evidence in the record.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner's opinion does not adequately address pertinent evidence in the record, including the Veteran's lay statements about his symptoms over time and instances of earlier diagnoses of an anxiety disorder from multiple treatment providers.
- Claimed conditions
- an unspecified anxiety disorder, rule-out trauma or stressor-related disorder, depressive disorder NOS, cognitive disorder NOS, organic brain syndrome
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 11, 2022
- Citation
- 22045486
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 22045486.
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 Veteran's claims for an increased rating for his acquired psychiatric disability and a TDIU due solely to service-connected acquired psychiatric disability are being remanded because the VA did not provide him with a new VA examination, which is a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The Veteran will be scheduled for a VA examination to determine the current severity of his service-connected acquired psychiatric disability.
- Granted
The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically unspecified anxiety disorder. The evidence is at least evenly balanced that this condition began during active service and is related to in-service events.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a psychiatric disability was dismissed because the Veteran withdrew their request before the Board made a decision.
- Granted
The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not rated higher than noncompensable (0 percent).,Service connection for tinnitus has been granted.,Service connection for lumbar spine pain, left lower extremity radiculopathy, right lower extremity radiculopathy, left knee pain, and right knee pain have all been granted.,Service connection for an unspecified anxiety disorder has been granted.,The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine condition is the primary cause of his bilateral knee and shoulder pain.
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.