The Board remands the service connection claims for a psychiatric disorder, right knee disorder, hypertension, and migraine headaches due to inadequate development concerning the threshold matter of whether the Veteran's discharge from active duty is a bar to receiving VA benefits.
The deciding factor: Insufficient evidence was provided regarding the Veteran's mental state at the time of her discharge, necessitating further development before a decision can be made on the service connection claims.
- Claimed conditions
- psychiatric disorder, to include adjustment disorder, anxiety, and major depression, right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome with degenerative arthritis (s/p ACL reconstruction), hypertension, migraine headaches
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 4, 2024
- Citation
- 24000661
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.
- Granted
The Board granted an effective date of October 21, 2021, for the grant of service connection for hypertension.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder to ensure a proper examination and etiology opinion are provided.
- Granted
The Veteran's migraine headaches were granted a 50 percent disability rating, effective August 8, 2023, due to very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks that are productive of severe economic inadaptability.
- Dismissed
The appeal for a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss, service connection for right ear hearing loss, and bilateral vision condition was dismissed. Service connection for hypertension, congestive heart failure, and coronary artery disease was denied.
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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.