The Veteran's request to reopen service connection for a mood disorder, polysubstance abuse (claimed as nervous condition and PTSD) has been granted. The evidence received since the last denial indicates that the Veteran was newly diagnosed with PTSD based on an in-service stressor.,The Veteran's request to reopen service connection for a back disability has also been granted. New medical records indicate a diagnosis of spondyloarthritis, which pertains to a prior evidentiary deficiency regarding a diagnosed disability.
The deciding factor: New evidence received since the last denial indicates that the Veteran was newly diagnosed with PTSD based on an in-service stressor.,The new medical records indicate a diagnosis of spondyloarthritis, which pertains to a prior evidentiary deficiency regarding a diagnosed disability.
- Claimed conditions
- Mood Disorder, Back Condition, Right Ear Hearing Loss
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 24, 2023
- Citation
- 23057752
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 23057752.
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 Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for right ear hearing loss and a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence to support these claims based on in-service noise exposure or other theories.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and mood disorders, effective from February 7, 2012. The Veteran's claim was ongoing until the RO granted service connection for PTSD in July 2020.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has found that new and relevant evidence has been received in relation to the claim on appeal, warranting readjudication of the issue. The Veteran's ED is claimed as secondary to his service-connected mood disorder including side effects of medications taken for his mood disorder.
- Denied
The Veteran's right ear hearing loss disability was not incurred in service and is less likely than not caused by noise exposure during his military service.
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