The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a new VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed polysubstance abuse disorder.
The deciding factor: The claims are inextricably intertwined with the need for additional evidence and an appropriate medical opinion regarding the Veteran's service-connected PTSD and its relationship to his diagnosed polysubstance abuse disorder.
- Claimed conditions
- polysubstance dependence
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- September 18, 2015
- Citation
- 1540212
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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 1540212.
What this means for you
A remand sends an issue back for more development, often a new examination or missing records. It does not award the benefit or decide the final outcome. The original decision explains the additional work ordered.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran was granted an initial rating of 70 percent for his acquired psychiatric disability and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The veteran's claim for a higher rating for major depressive disorder was denied, but they were granted total disability based on individual unemployability. The claim for service connection for a sleep disorder was remanded.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The veteran's request for a higher rating for left knee osteoarthritis was denied. The claim for service connection for polysubstance dependence and related mental health conditions was remanded for further evaluation.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including bipolar disorder, polysubstance dependence, unspecified personality disorder, and PTSD. The Board also found that his HIV is secondary to his acquired psychiatric disorder.
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