The Board remands the claim for an earlier effective date for a 70 percent disability rating for PTSD with depression and anxiety and TBI with peripheral vestibular disorder due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.
The deciding factor: The VA examination provided was inadequate as it failed to differentiate between symptoms attributable to service-connected conditions, which is required under the law.
- Claimed conditions
- Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) with depression and anxiety, Traumatic brain injury (TBI) with peripheral vestibular disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 13, 2025
- Citation
- A25023234
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 appeal regarding service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder was dismissed, but the Veteran's claims for direct service connection for chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy and an initial 10 percent rating for hypertension were granted. The claim for service connection for GERD was remanded.
- 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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD due to an inadequate medical opinion.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.