The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development to address the etiology of his acquired psychiatric disorder, including schizoaffective disorder and alcohol dependence in full sustained remission. The examiner should also determine whether his right knee disability aggravates these conditions.
The deciding factor: Further examination is needed to establish the etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders and assess any aggravation by his service-connected right knee disability.
- Claimed conditions
- schizoaffective disorder, alcohol dependence in full sustained remission, polysubstance use disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- September 13, 2023
- Citation
- 23050683
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 23050683.
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 has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining in-service psychiatric treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any acquired psychiatric disorder.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, schizoaffective disorder, and neurocognitive disorder is remanded due to a failure to provide a VA examination addressing whether the pre-existing psychiatric disorder was aggravated during service.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's initial rating of 50% for schizoaffective disorder is increased to 70% from June 22, 2009 to April 30, 2010 and from July 1, 2010 to August 18, 2020. A temporary total disability rating of 100% for hospital treatment due to schizoaffective disorder is granted from March 1, 2010 to June 30, 2010. The Veteran's entitlement to TDIU prior to August 18, 2020 is also granted.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The Social Security Administration records need to be obtained and reviewed.
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