The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for cocaine addiction, finding that there was no evidence to support his contention that it was caused by in-service treatment for a nasal bone fracture.
The deciding factor: The Board found that while the Veteran had a history of cocaine abuse and use after service, there was no medical evidence linking this abuse to any in-service treatment, particularly the topical administration of cocaine during surgery.
- Claimed conditions
- cocaine addiction
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- April 16, 2021
- Citation
- 21022495
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 21022495.
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 remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's cocaine addiction and its relation to his in-service nasal surgery. The AOJ is instructed to obtain an independent medical opinion from a licensed Addiction Medicine Specialist with a pharmacology or forensics background.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for cocaine addiction, as it relates to his postoperative residuals of nasal bone fracture with scarring. The case was previously denied by the Board and later remanded multiple times due to conflicting opinions from medical experts.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board has determined that the Veteran's cocaine addiction is not caused or aggravated by his service-connected anxiety disorder.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for cocaine addiction, finding that there was no evidence to support a direct link between his inservice treatment and his current addiction.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.