The Board denied the Appellant's claim that his character of discharge is a bar to VA benefits due to a continuous period of AWOL for over 180 days. The upgraded discharge did not set aside this statutory bar.
The deciding factor: Compelling circumstances were not found to warrant the prolonged unauthorized absence from service, particularly given the Appellant's age and lack of evidence supporting specific family emergencies or obligations during his final prolonged absence period.
- Claimed conditions
- Alcoholism, Drug Use
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 5, 2019
- Citation
- 19116133
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 19116133.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Partly granted
The Board granted an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for PTSD beginning March 16, 2010 and denied a motion for revision of an August 2007 rating decision on the basis of clear and unmistakable error (CUE). The Board also granted service connection for alcoholism, major depressive disorder, congestive heart failure, cardiomyopathy, sleep apnea, and increased ratings for PTSD.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD with sleep disorder and alcoholism was denied due to lack of verified in-service stressors. The Board found no new and material evidence to reopen the claim. Service connection for hypertension was granted, but the low back disorder issue is remanded.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board denied service connection for PTSD due to insufficient evidence of a link between the Veteran's current symptoms and an in-service stressor. The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD is remanded for further evaluation.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development and clarification of his claims, particularly regarding his PTSD with alcoholism.
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