The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining treatment records and providing an opinion on the etiology of the Veteran's opioid dependence.
The deciding factor: Additional development is needed due to incomplete medical records and inadequate previous examination opinions.
- Claimed conditions
- opioid dependence
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- April 14, 2016
- Citation
- 1615138
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 1615138.
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: Dismissed
The Board has dismissed the appeal for service connection for schizoaffective disorder with opioid dependence due to a withdrawal by the appellant and his representative.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the matter to obtain an adequate independent medical opinion regarding the Veteran's 38 U.S.C. § 1151 claim.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the matter for an independent medical opinion to determine if additional disability, claimed as opioid withdrawal symptoms, opioid dependence, and opioid addiction, was proximately caused by VA treatment.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the etiology and aggravation of the Veteran's psychiatric disabilities, including bipolar disorder with opioid dependence. The VA must provide an addendum opinion addressing these issues.
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