The Board remands the claim for an appropriate examination to determine the nature and etiology of any current acquired psychiatric disorder.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner's opinion was found inadequate due to the lack of consideration of lay statements submitted after the initial examination, making it unclear whether a pre-existing condition existed or if there was aggravation during service.
- Claimed conditions
- major depressive disorder with psychotic features, panic disorder with agoraphobia, attention deficit disorder
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 27, 2025
- Citation
- A25028430
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.
- Denied
The Board denied an increased rating for major depressive disorder and panic disorder with agoraphobia, finding that the Veteran's symptoms did not meet the criteria for a disability rating in excess of 50 percent.
- Granted
The Veteran's major depressive disorder with psychotic features was granted a 100 percent disability rating from April 24, 2014, due to total occupational and social impairment.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including bipolar I disorder, alcohol use disorder (mild), and major depressive disorder with psychotic features.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for panic disorder with agoraphobia and generalized anxiety disorder, finding that the Veteran's mental disorder began during his active service and is caused by in-service events.
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.