The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining service treatment records and VA treatment records. The Veteran is also required to undergo a VA examination to determine if her current polysubstance abuse disorder was caused or aggravated by her service-connected PTSD.
The deciding factor: Further development is needed as the Veteran's claim requires additional evidence and an opinion regarding the etiology of her current polysubstance abuse disorder.
- Claimed conditions
- polysubstance abuse disorder
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 6, 2010
- Citation
- 1029617
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 1029617.
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 Veteran's bipolar disorder with psychotic features and polysubstance abuse disorder was granted a 100 percent disability rating as of January 23, 2020, and eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 35 was also granted.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that the evidence is not persuasive in favor of a link between any current condition and military service.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition, other than PTSD. The claims for tinnitus, left forearm condition, right wrist condition (claimed as a forearm condition), right hand condition, lower back condition, and PTSD are remanded.
- Granted
The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including depressive disorder and polysubstance abuse disorder, is granted. The petition to reopen a claim for service-connected for an eye disability is also granted. Other issues are remanded.
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