The Board remands the claims for an increased rating for bipolar disorder with anxious distress and depression, as well as chondromalacia patella (claimed as right leg stress fracture), due to pre-decisional errors and a lack of proper notice for VA examinations.
The deciding factor: The February 2024 VA mental disorders examination failed to adequately consider the Veteran's submitted lay statements, and there is uncertainty regarding whether the Veteran received proper notice for his scheduled March 11, 2024, VA examination for chondromalacia patella.
- Claimed conditions
- bipolar disorder with anxious distress and depression, chondromalacia patella (claimed as right leg stress fracture)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 2, 2025
- Citation
- A25030642
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.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, effective from the date of the February 2025 rating decision.
- Remanded (sent back)
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- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD due to an inadequate medical opinion.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for myasthenia gravis based on the Veteran's exposure to hazardous substances during his military service.
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