The Board has decided to remand the DIC benefits claim due to incomplete records and need for additional medical opinions. The opioid use condition of the decedent is also under review.
The deciding factor: Further development is required as there are missing service treatment records and a new opinion on the cause of the opioid use disorder is needed.
- Claimed conditions
- Opioid use disorder, Post-deployment syndrome
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- October 25, 2018
- Citation
- 18144618
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 18144618.
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: Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD and various other psychiatric disorders, as it finds that there was a pre-decisional duty to assist error in not obtaining medical opinions addressing all of the Veteran's diagnosed psychiatric disorders.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance was denied because he did not meet the criteria of needing regular aid and assistance due to his service-connected disabilities.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The Veteran's PTSD with residual of TBI and opioid and stimulant use disorders was granted a rating of 70 percent from March 24, 2021 onward. However, the Veteran's PTSD prior to this date did not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The lumbosacral strain issue remains denied.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted an earlier effective date of May 18, 2019 for the award of a 100 percent disability rating for the Veteran's service-connected other specified trauma and stressor related disorder with opioid use disorder.,Additionally, the Board has also granted an earlier effective date of May 18, 2019 for the Veteran's basic eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits pursuant to 38 U.S.C. Chapter 35.
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