The Board remands the issue of entitlement to initial ratings in excess of 50 percent for persistent depressive disorder with alcohol use disorder, severe with panic disorder, as a new VA examination is needed to determine the current severity of the disability.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's symptoms described on a recent VA Form 21-4138 are more severe than those reflected in the June 2023 VA examination report and require a new examination for an accurate assessment.
- Claimed conditions
- persistent depressive disorder with alcohol use disorder, severe with panic disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 2, 2025
- Citation
- 25006042
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
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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.