The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability and for alcoholism, finding that the veteran's personality disorder is not a disease within the meaning of applicable legislation for compensation purposes, and that his alcoholism may not be established as a matter of law.
The deciding factor: Service connection cannot be granted for a personality disorder or for alcoholism due to the provisions of 38 U.S.C.A. § 105 and 38 C.F.R. § 3.301, which prohibit compensation for disabilities resulting from abuse of alcohol or drugs.
- Claimed conditions
- Personality Disorder, Alcoholism
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- September 17, 2003
- Citation
- 0324391
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 0324391.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
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: Denied
The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date and increased rating for other specified trauma-related disorder was denied. The Board found that the May 1974 denial of service connection for a personality disorder did not address a reasonable raised claim for depression, which is related to the same period.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's claim for PTSD has been granted, and the claims for personality disorder and panic/anxiety disorder have been remanded due to new evidence.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the hearing being cancelled and a need for additional clarification of his mental health condition. A VA examination is required to determine the nature and etiology of any diagnosed conditions, including PTSD.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to a duty-to-assist error, requiring further examination and opinion regarding whether any diagnosed psychiatric disorder is related to service or superimposed upon his personality disorder.
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