The Veteran's alcohol dependence and polysubstance abuse are not service-connected as they resulted from his own willful misconduct.,His bilateral hip arthritis is not service-connected as it did not manifest within one year of discharge and there is no evidence linking it to service or a service-connected condition.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's alcohol dependence and polysubstance abuse are considered willful misconduct, precluding direct service connection. The hip arthritis was not present in service or related to any service-connected disability.
- Claimed conditions
- Alcohol dependence and polysubstance abuse, Right hip arthritis, Left hip arthritis, Degenerative arthritis of the right knee
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 5, 2018
- Citation
- 18131900
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. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 18131900.
What this means for you
A remand is not a loss. The Board sent the case back for more development — often a new exam or missing records — before making a final decision. Many remands later end in a grant, and the decision spells out exactly what the Board wanted to see.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that additional VA examinations are needed to assess the severity of the Veteran's right hip disabilities, including limitation of extension, flexion, and thigh impairment. The issues related to these conditions have been remanded for further action.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the right knee is granted. The claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are denied, as well as the claim for service connection for right lower extremity radiculopathy.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his lumbar spine disability, right lower extremity radiculopathy, left hip arthritis, and right hip arthritis are remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to duty-to-assist errors, specifically regarding a VA medical opinion on whether the Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the right knee is related to service-connected chondromalacia and proximal patellar tendinosis of the left knee. The Board also needs another VA medical opinion addressing chronic presumptions and direct service connection.
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