The Board denied service connection for a substance abuse disorder, finding that the Veteran's use of illegal drugs and alcohol to enjoy their intoxicating effects constituted willful misconduct. As such, direct service connection was not granted.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's daily drinking of alcohol and use of illegal drugs to enjoy their intoxicating effects were considered willful misconduct under VA regulations.
- Claimed conditions
- cocaine abuse disorder, methamphetamine and amphetamine abuse disorders, alcohol abuse disorder, cannabis dependence (substance abuse disorder)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 20, 2020
- Citation
- 20035104
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 20035104.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to a duty-to-assist error in the prior VA examination, and the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability is being returned for further evaluation.
- Granted
The Veteran's cause of death is due to complications from chronic alcohol abuse, which the Board finds was caused by or aggravated by an underlying acquired psychiatric disorder (insomnia). The Board grants service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.
- Granted
The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including bipolar disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder with psychotic features, and cocaine abuse disorder, are granted as service connected. The Board found the Veteran's symptoms were related to his military service.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeals for service connection, a higher rating for PTSD, and TDIU have been dismissed due to the Veteran's death.
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