The Board remands the claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include unspecified trauma and stressor related disorder, due to a duty to assist error regarding an inadequate medical opinion.
The deciding factor: A supplemental VA opinion is needed as the previous medical opinion did not adequately address the Veteran's in-service stressors and post-service diagnoses of major depressive disorder and PTSD.
- Claimed conditions
- unspecified trauma and stressor related disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- Gulf War
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 22, 2025
- Citation
- A25036640
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 Veteran's service-connected disabilities cause him to require the regular aid and attendance of another person, thus granting special monthly compensation.
- Granted
The Board granted an effective date of November 8, 2022, for the assignment of a 70 percent rating for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, unspecified trauma and stressor related disorder, and mild recurrent major depressive disorder, due to a pre-decisional duty-to-assist error.
- Granted
The Board granted an initial rating of 70 percent for the Veteran's unspecified trauma and stressor related disorder, as the severity, frequency, and duration of the symptoms associated with the condition most closely approximated occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.
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