The Board remands the matter to obtain additional evidence and provide a retrospective opinion regarding the nature of the Veteran's service-connected PTSD associated with sleep disorder, nightmares, anxiety with mood disorder dating back to at least April 7, 1997.
The deciding factor: The Board determined that the evidence submitted in February 2011 indicating suicidal ideation constituted new and material evidence for a higher disability rating for PTSD, which potentially abates the finality of the December 2010 rating decision.
- Claimed conditions
- PTSD associated with sleep disorder, nightmares, anxiety with mood disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 13, 2025
- Citation
- 25006470
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 granted service connection for unspecified trauma and stressor related disorder and alcohol use disorder, but denied service connection for nightmares, fatigue, a right ankle disability, an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus, a compensable initial rating for dental loss, and an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for left ankle degenerative arthritis.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disability, as it finds a pre-decisional duty to assist error due to lack of transportation preventing the Veteran from attending a scheduled examination.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, effective from the date of the February 2025 rating decision.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a medical examination to determine if the Veteran's current neck strain is related to his in-service activities.
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