The Board has determined that the Veteran's injuries, including his lumbar spine disability, cervical spine disability, residuals of a fractured skull, traumatic brain injury, headaches, vertigo, neurological condition affecting bilateral lower extremities (claimed as pain and muscle spasms), neuropathy of upper extremities, and acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as PTSD) are due to his own willful misconduct. As such, these claims for service connection are denied.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's injuries were the result of his own willful misconduct during military service.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar spine disability, cervical spine disability, residuals, fractured skull, traumatic brain injury, headaches, vertigo, neurological disability of the bilateral lower extremities (claimed as pain and muscle spasms), neuropathy of the left upper extremity, neuropathy of the right upper extremity, acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as posttraumatic stress disorder)
- How they argued it
- Aggravation of a pre-existing condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- February 13, 2018
- Citation
- 1808861
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 1808861.
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 has determined that the Veteran's headaches are at least as likely as not caused by his service-connected traumatic brain injury, and thus grants service connection for this condition.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development of records and will provide a supplemental statement of the case if necessary.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The Board has not made a final determination on the claims of service connection for inguinal hernia, PTSD, joint pain, fibromyalgia, left knee disability, right knee disability, tinnitus, chronic fatigue syndrome, respiratory disability, sleep disorder, IBS, and headaches. The claims are remanded to obtain additional evidence and determine if these conditions are related to service.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the claims of service connection for cervical spine and skin rash disabilities, finding that there is no evidence linking these conditions to active military service.
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