The Board remands the claim for service connection for persistent depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder to obtain a medical opinion regarding their etiology.
The deciding factor: The evidence of record is in approximate balance as to whether the Veteran experienced psychiatric symptoms in service, and there is sufficient 'evidence indicating that there may be a nexus' between his current disabilities and his in-service experiences, meeting the third element of the McLendon test.
- Claimed conditions
- persistent depressive disorder (PDD), generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 23, 2025
- Citation
- A25053973
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 persistent depressive disorder (PDD) as secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus type II, blindness, and hearing loss.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for eye conditions, an acquired psychiatric disorder, and obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus type II with erectile dysfunction and left eye retinopathy. However, it denied increased ratings for multiple peripheral neuropathies, hypertension, and status post tympanoplasty.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for further development, including obtaining outstanding private medical records.
- Dismissed
The appeal for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, to include generalized anxiety disorder and persistent depressive disorder, was withdrawn by the Veteran before the Board promulgated a decision.
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.