The Board has ordered a new examination to address the timing of surgeries and pain medications prescribed for service-connected conditions, as well as their potential impact on the Veteran's cause of death.
The deciding factor: The examiner must provide an opinion on whether the Veteran's drug abuse was caused or aggravated by his service-connected physical injuries and/or the surgeries required for such.
- Claimed conditions
- Drug Abuse
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- September 15, 2023
- Citation
- 23051167
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 23051167.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and entitlement to Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) were granted effective November 16, 2021.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that there are errors in the decision-making process and requires additional development to ensure compliance with VA's duty to assist. The Veteran is entitled to service connection for various conditions, but further evidence is needed due to missing service records.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and related conditions such as depression and drug abuse. The decision is based on the occurrence of a recognized stressor during service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to errors in obtaining relevant federal records and a medical opinion regarding the appellant's mental state at the time of his misconduct. The AOJ will obtain SSA disability benefits records, conduct a psychiatric evaluation, and issue a new administrative decision based on the revised provisions of 38 C.F.R. § 3.12.
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