The Board remands the claim for service connection of major depressive disorder, claimed as alcohol abuse disorder for treatment purposes only under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 17, due to an insufficient medical opinion.
The deciding factor: The April 2023 VA examination and other evidence are deemed inadequate to determine the etiology of the Veteran's conditions.
- Claimed conditions
- major depressive disorder, alcohol use disorder
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 3, 2024
- Citation
- 24000225
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 claim for an earlier effective date for service connection for major depressive disorder is dismissed as moot because the earliest effective date was granted during the pendency of this appeal.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for multiple conditions, including an acquired psychiatric disorder, sleep apnea, hypertension, and various musculoskeletal and skin disabilities.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for a liver condition, finding it to be secondary to the Veteran's service-connected depressive disorder.
- Remanded (sent back)
The appeal is remanded for further development and consideration of the Veteran's claims for service connection for various acquired psychiatric disorders.
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This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.