The Board remands the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder due to a duty to assist error that occurred prior to the rating decision on appeal.
The deciding factor: The May 2024 VA-obtained medical opinion is found inadequate because it is based on an inaccurate factual premise regarding the Veteran's pre-military mental health status, and thus requires correction through a new medical opinion.
- Claimed conditions
- psychological condition, acquired psychiatric disorder (depressive disorder with neurocognitive disorder, opioid use disorder)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 18, 2025
- Citation
- A25053410
Veterans Law Judge
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation A25053410.
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.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal regarding the timeliness of a May 2023 VA Form 10182 is dismissed as his Motion for Extension of Time was granted, making the form timely.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 due to errors in obtaining pre-decisional duty-to-assist information and records, as well as for an addendum VA medical opinion addressing all theories of entitlement raised by the Veteran.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's appeal as his substantive appeal was not filed within the required time frame, despite the presumption of regularity and potential equitable tolling.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the submission of a new avenue of entitlement for service connection based on military sexual trauma (MST). The Veteran will be provided special notice provisions and an opportunity to submit evidence supporting his claim.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
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.