The Board has reopened the claim regarding whether new and material evidence supports a finding that the Appellant's discharge from service under conditions other than honorable is not a bar to VA benefits. The claim remains denied as his character of discharge is considered dishonorable.
The deciding factor: The Appellant was found guilty of multiple infractions during service, including AWOL, robbery, and willful misconduct, which constitute dishonorable conduct for VA purposes.
- Claimed conditions
- Willful misconduct, AWOL (Absent Without Leave), Robbery
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- April 2, 2015
- Citation
- 1514288
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 1514288.
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 remanded the case due to incomplete service medical records and additional evidentiary development is needed. The appellant's mental state during service will be evaluated by a VA examiner.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has determined that the appellant's discharge from service was due to willful and persistent misconduct, which constitutes a bar to receiving VA benefits. The claim is granted.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the appellant's claim regarding his character of discharge. The Board also found that the appellant was insane at the time he committed the offenses resulting in his undesirable discharge, thus removing any bar to VA benefits.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board found that the Veteran's period of service from April 1981 to December 1983 was under other than honorable conditions due to willful and persistent misconduct, including drug abuse, AWOL, disrespecting an officer, and auto theft. As a result, his character of discharge is considered dishonorable, barring him from VA benefits except for health care.
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