The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's current substance use disorder and its relation to his service-connected psychiatric disorders.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner found that the Veteran did not meet DSM-5 criteria for an active substance use disorder, but there is conflicting evidence suggesting he may have had a recent relapse. The Board requires an addendum opinion to address this issue.
- Claimed conditions
- polysubstance abuse, substance use disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- February 23, 2023
- Citation
- 23011482
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 23011482.
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 Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's substance use disorder as secondary to his service-connected PTSD, finding that the Veteran's abuse of substances was a result of his PTSD.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has found that the Appellant's discharge from service is not a bar to VA compensation benefits, but it was an error in fulfilling VA's duty to assist not to obtain a medical opinion addressing the extent of any psychiatric symptoms during service and their effect on the Appellant's behavior. The matter is therefore remanded for further action.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that additional development is needed to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors and remands the case for further action on service connection and TDIU issues.
- Whole decision: Granted
An increased rating of 70 percent for 'other trauma and stressor related disorder' with unspecified depressive disorder and substance use disorder is granted, effective March 1, 2013. The Veteran's service-connected disability has caused total occupational and social impairment.
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