The Board has determined that the veteran's alcohol and drug abuse is secondary to his service-connected PTSD, warranting service connection. The left knee disorder claim was denied in August 1988 but reopened due to new evidence submitted.
The deciding factor: The VA General Counsel held that service connection for substance-abuse disabilities is not granted under section 3.310(a) on the basis of direct service connection, but can be granted as secondary to a service-connected disability like PTSD.
- Claimed conditions
- Alcohol and Drug Abuse, Left Knee Disorder
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- May 31, 2000
- Citation
- 0014185
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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 0014185.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board allowed the benefit or issue identified in this decision. Review the original order: other issues in the same appeal may have a different outcome, and this decision does not predict another claim.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for right and left hip disorders due to a pre-decisional error in obtaining an adequate nexus opinion prior to the June 2021 rating decision.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for left and right knee disorders due to insufficient opinions regarding the onset and relationship to service.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal concerning the service connection for PTSD with alcohol and drug abuse was dismissed due to their death during the pendency of the appeal.
- Denied
The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The rating in excess of 70 percent for Persistent Depressive Disorder, the rating in excess of 50 percent for OSA, and the compensable rating for Migraine Headaches are all denied. Service connection for a Left Knee Disorder is also denied.
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