The Board remands the claim for an increased rating of the service-connected acquired psychiatric disability to ensure a proper VA examination is conducted, considering the Veteran's additional service-connected disabilities.
The deciding factor: A remand is necessary due to the lack of a recent and comprehensive VA examination that fully assesses the severity of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability in relation to his other service-connected conditions.
- Claimed conditions
- other specified depressive disorder with alcohol use disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 1, 2025
- Citation
- A25040298
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 earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for other specified depressive disorder with alcohol use disorder, finding that there was no evidence reasonably indicating a link between the Veteran's psychiatric disability and his Hepatitis C prior to November 2021.
- 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.
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