The Board has decided to remand the claims for an initial disability rating in excess of 30 percent for depressive disorder with anxious distress and for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors. The appellant's community care records from July 2024 need to be obtained and associated with the claims file.
The deciding factor: The Board found that VA did not consider the appellant's community care records, which were uploaded into VistA imaging system, when making its decision on the initial disability rating for depressive disorder with anxious distress. These records may contain relevant information that could affect the outcome of the claim.
- Claimed conditions
- depressive disorder with anxious distress
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 25, 2026
- Citation
- A26027247
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 A26027247.
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 appeals for the proposed reduction of facial scars, an increased rating for tinnitus, and service connection for migraines have been dismissed due to untimely filings or lack of good cause.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received for the claim of service connection for headaches. The Veteran's supplemental claim is being remanded to allow for a VA examination and an updated opinion regarding the relationship between his headaches and his service-connected depressive disorder with anxious distress.
- Granted
The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability, including unspecified depressive disorder and depressive disorder with anxious distress, as secondary to his service-connected tinnitus. The decision finds that the Veteran's sleeplessness due to constant ringing in his ears caused his depression.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's depressive disorder with anxious distress is being remanded for a more detailed opinion regarding whether it is at least as likely as not aggravated by his service-connected lumbar spine condition and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy.
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.