The Board remands the issues of entitlement to an initial rating higher than 50 percent prior to August 20, 2023, for the Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disability, and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to November 30, 2023, as well as an increased rating from August 30, 2023 to January 29, 2025.
The deciding factor: The remand is necessary for the AOJ to readjudicate the claims with consideration of all additional evidence.
- Claimed conditions
- major depressive disorder with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 2, 2025
- Citation
- 25004495
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 998 · Granted: 40% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 25004495.
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.
- Partly granted
The Board denied a disability rating higher than 70 percent for major depressive disorder with PTSD but granted a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability (TDIU) due to the same condition, effective February 15, 2024.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for major depressive disorder with PTSD and tinnitus based on direct service connection.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings in excess of 20 percent for degenerative arthritis, lumbar spine and in excess of 70 percent for major depressive disorder with PTSD have been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of her appeal.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for his lumbar disability, a disability rating in excess of 50 percent for his major depressive disorder with PTSD, an earlier effective date for his major depressive disorder with PTSD, and a TDIU claim. The issues are being referred back to the AOJ for further action.
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