The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including depressive disorder NOS, is currently rated at 30 percent. The Board has decided to remand the case for further evaluation due to outdated evidence and potential interplay with other service-connected disabilities.
The deciding factor: The current rating does not reflect the severity of the Veteran's mental health disability given its interplay with chronic pain from other service-connected conditions.
- Claimed conditions
- depressive disorder, not otherwise specified (NOS)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 7, 2023
- Citation
- 23049270
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 23049270.
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.
- Dismissed
The Board dismissed the appeal for an earlier effective date for a 100 percent evaluation of service-connected PTSD, alcohol dependence, and depressive disorder.
- Dismissed
The Board dismissed the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 100 percent evaluation for service-connected acquired psychiatric disabilities as it was not properly before the Board due to the finality of the September 2019 decision.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for an increased initial rating in excess of 30 percent for depressive disorder, not otherwise specified (NOS), due to a lack of complete medical records and the need for a new VA examination.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient verification of a claimed stressor and for an updated VA psychiatric medical opinion.
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.