The Veteran's hospitalization for psychiatric and substance abuse disorders is in excess of 21 days, but the Board cannot determine if his substance abuse disorders are due to or aggravated by his service-connected psychiatric disorder without resorting to speculation. The case is remanded for further examination.
The deciding factor: The Board cannot definitively state whether the Veteran's substance abuse disorders are caused by or aggravated by his service-connected psychiatric disorder without more specific medical evidence.
- Claimed conditions
- Psychiatric Disorder, Substance Abuse Disorders
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 3, 2020
- Citation
- 20000315
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.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability, psychiatric disorder, lumbar spine disability, hypertension, and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to the Veteran's military service.
- Partly granted
The Board granted an effective date of June 23, 2023, for the award of a 50 percent rating for a psychiatric disorder but denied earlier effective dates for service connection and special monthly compensation.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board dismissed the claim for service connection for acne and remanded claims for service connection for bilateral pes planus, ED, allergic rhinitis, and a psychiatric disorder for readjudication with new evidence.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a 70 percent rating for the Veteran's psychiatric disorder and remanded issues related to increased ratings for hand and wrist disabilities and service connection for OSA.
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