The Board found that the veteran's multiple substance abuse is not proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected innocently acquired psychiatric disorder, and thus denied both claims.
The deciding factor: The veteran's current substance abuse was not shown to be caused or aggravated by his service-connected innocently acquired psychiatric disorder.
- Claimed conditions
- Multiple Substance Abuse, Innocently Acquired Psychiatric Disorder
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- October 24, 2007
- Citation
- 0733443
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 0733443.
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: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that new and material evidence had been received to reopen the veteran's claim of service connection for an innocently acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD. The case is being remanded for further development.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board of Veterans' Appeals has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the likely cause of the veteran's claimed psychiatric disorder.
- Whole decision: Granted
The veteran's PTSD was granted a disability rating of 70 percent effective from June 20, 2001 to July 31, 2003. The issues of service connection for alcohol and substance abuse as secondary to PTSD, SMC based on one 100% rated disability and TDIU prior to August 1, 2003 were also granted.
- Whole decision: Denied
The veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions are denied as the evidence does not show that any of these conditions were incurred or aggravated by active service.
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