The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for sedative, stimulant, and alcohol use disorders, finding that his substance abuse was not caused by a primary service-connected disability or willful misconduct.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not establish that the Veteran's substance abuse was caused by another medical condition, including his service-connected disabilities, nor was it due to willful wrongdoing.
- Claimed conditions
- sedative, stimulant, and alcohol use disorders, alcohol and drug addiction
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- September 14, 2022
- Citation
- 22052248
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 22052248.
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: Granted
The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including anxiety disorder, depressive disorder, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), is granted service connection. The appeal for alcohol and drug addiction was withdrawn by the Veteran during his hearing. Service connection for radiation exposure and prostate cancer are remanded.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the claims for service connection for hepatitis C, depression, and alcohol and drug addiction for purposes of accrued benefits due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to active military service.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's headaches are at least as likely as not caused by his service-connected traumatic brain injury, and thus grants service connection for this condition.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hypertension and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.
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