The Veteran's in-service substance abuse was not related to a service-connected disability and is considered willful misconduct. Therefore, the claim for service connection for a substance abuse disorder is denied.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's in-service substance abuse was found to be willful misconduct and thus cannot be service-connected by law and regulation.
- Claimed conditions
- Substance Abuse Disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- November 21, 2011
- Citation
- 1142713
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 1142713.
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: Granted
The Board granted a 100 percent rating for the Veteran's psychiatric disability, effective November 15, 2023, due to total occupational and social impairment.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the claim for restoration of a 100 percent rating for PTSD and substance abuse disorder, effective July 1, 2023.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to the need for new medical opinions regarding his stroke, eye disorders, and peripheral nerve conditions. The hypertension claim is no longer part of this appeal.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that the VA examination and evidence of record are insufficient to decide the increased rating claim for PTSD with substance abuse disorder, as there is conflicting information regarding whether the Veteran's hallucinations were resolved or still ongoing during the review period. The TDIU claim is also remanded due to its inextricability from the increased rating claim.
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