The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient rationale in a previous VA medical opinion and the Veteran's disagreement. The Veteran is entitled to a new examination to determine if any acquired psychiatric disorder, including cannabis use disorder previously diagnosed as anxiety neurosis with paranoid features, had its onset in service or was caused by an in-service disease or injury.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the previous VA medical opinion lacked sufficient rationale and the Veteran disagreed. Therefore, a new examination is needed to determine the etiology of any acquired psychiatric disorder.
- Claimed conditions
- cannabis use disorder, anxiety neurosis with paranoid features (previously diagnosed as depression)
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- October 9, 2018
- Citation
- 18140960
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 18140960.
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
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating in excess of 70 percent for a mental health disorder is dismissed. The Board grants the Veteran a TDIU from September 2, 2019, but no earlier.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 70 percent for his service-connected psychiatric conditions (panic attacks, generalized anxiety disorder, alcohol use disorder, and cannabis use disorder) was denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a 100 percent rating due to insufficient evidence of total occupational and social impairment.
- Granted
The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is related to active service and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that there was a predecisional duty to assist error and remands the case for an addendum opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea, specifically addressing whether his service-connected PTSD caused or aggravated obesity, which may be an intermediate step in a secondary service-connection analysis.
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