The Veteran's claims for service connection of acquired psychiatric disorders and erectile dysfunction are being remanded due to duty-to-assist errors. The claim for increased rating for the service-connected status post small bowel resection and history of peptic ulcer, GERD, remains pending.
The deciding factor: There were pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors in expanding the PTSD claim to include all acquired psychiatric disorders and in failing to provide an opinion regarding whether any acquired psychiatric disorder was incurred in or is related to service.
- Claimed conditions
- Status Post Small Bowel Resection and History of Peptic Ulcer, GERD, Acquired Psychiatric Disorders (including PTSD, Major Depressive Disorder), Erectile Dysfunction
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 20, 2024
- Citation
- A24085609
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 A24085609.
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 has determined that the Veteran's erectile dysfunction is secondary to his service-connected major depressive disorder, and thus grants service connection for this condition.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim of service connection for erectile dysfunction due to insufficient medical evidence and a need for a VA examination.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for Type II Diabetes Mellitus, Bilateral Lower Extremity Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy (Sciatic Nerve), Erectile Dysfunction, and Bladder Cancer in remission. Effective dates have been set for these awards as of July 14, 2004. The Veteran's claim for higher initial disability ratings and earlier effective dates are being remanded.
- Granted
The Veteran's erectile dysfunction is found to have had its onset during service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition.
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