The veteran seeks an increased disability rating for his service-connected PTSD. The VA examiner will be asked to determine whether the veteran's alcohol dependence is a symptom of his PTSD and if it should be considered in rating his PTSD.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner will assess whether the veteran's alcohol dependence is proximately due or the result of his service-connected PTSD, which could affect how PTSD is rated.
- Claimed conditions
- Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Alcohol Dependence
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 1, 2005
- Citation
- 0502305
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 0502305.
What this means for you
A remand is not a loss. The Board sent the case back for more development — often a new exam or missing records — before making a final decision. Many remands later end in a grant, and the decision spells out exactly what the Board wanted to see.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unemployable since March 20, 2014, and the Board granted an effective date of that date for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) and eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA).
- Partly granted
The Veteran's service-connected PTSD was granted a rating of 100 percent, and service connection for migraines secondary to PTSD was also granted. The other issues were remanded.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, generalized anxiety disorder, and panic disorder, resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date prior to September 1, 2023, for a 70 percent rating for PTSD.
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