The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was caused by end-stage liver failure, which is believed to be related to his heavy drinking. The appellant argues this alcohol use/abuse was associated with or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD. However, there is insufficient evidence in the record to determine if the Veteran's PTSD contributed to his alcohol use or abuse, and vice versa. Therefore, a remand is required to obtain an opinion from a VA examiner regarding these issues.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the evidence was insufficient to determine whether the Veteran's service-connected PTSD caused or aggravated his alcohol use/abuse, which in turn contributed to his death due to end-stage liver failure.
- Claimed conditions
- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 6, 2013
- Citation
- 1340280
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 1340280.
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
Service connection for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is granted. The appeal as to the issue of entitlement to service connection for erectile dysfunction is dismissed.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for PTSD with alcohol use disorder was denied, and he was granted a TDIU. The Board found that the symptoms did not meet criteria for a 100% disability rating.
- Partly granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Major Depressive Disorder with Insomnia Disorder, was granted. The effective date is set at October 25, 2022.
- Granted
The Veteran's PTSD has been granted a 70% rating effective March 25, 2024. The Board found that the increase in severity of his disability warranted this rating.
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