The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as alcoholism) and bilateral hip vascular disease, secondary to alcoholism are both denied. The Board found that the Veteran's alcoholism is a result of his own willful misconduct in service, thus precluding compensation. There is no evidence of any current psychiatric disability or chronic hip condition within one year post-service for presumptive service connection.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's alcoholism was determined to be due to his own willful misconduct during service and therefore not compensable under the law. The Board also found that there is insufficient evidence to establish a direct service connection for either an acquired psychiatric disorder or bilateral hip vascular disease, as both conditions are not shown to have been incurred in service.
- Claimed conditions
- alcoholism, acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as alcoholism), bilateral hip vascular disease
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- March 23, 2018
- Citation
- 1817613
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 1817613.
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 decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's alcoholism is secondary to his service-connected adjustment disorder with anxiety and depression.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's motion to revise an August 2009 rating decision denying service connection for alcoholism (also claimed as depression) on the basis of clear and unmistakable error (CUE), finding no CUE in the original decision.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection of various psychiatric conditions, including substance abuse condition, alcoholism, bipolar disorder, schizoaffective disorder, and severe depression.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied service connection for anxiety and alcoholism, finding that the evidence did not support a link to active duty.
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