Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, lumbar spine disorder, and left knee disorder to request additional evidence regarding the Veteran's National Guard service records and obtain further medical opinions.
The deciding factor: A pre-decisional duty to assist error exists as the AOJ did not make attempts to obtain relevant National Guard service records and the VA examinations provided were inadequate.
- Claimed conditions
- psychiatric disorder, to include posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), major depressive disorder, and insomnia disorder, lumbar spine disorder, to include intervertebral disc syndrome and lumbosacral strain, left knee disorder, to include patellofemoral pain syndrome
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 2, 2025
- Citation
- A25103281
Want to see how appeals like this one tend to go? Appeals like mine
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.