The Veteran's death was attributed to malnutrition due to squamous cell carcinoma of the tonsil, with alcohol dependence contributing. The VA examiner could not definitively link PTSD and alcohol use.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner found it unclear if PTSD and alcohol dependence were related, but did not provide a definitive opinion on whether they are secondary or aggravated by each other.
- Claimed conditions
- Alcohol dependence, Osteomyelitis of the mandible, Squamous cell carcinoma of the tonsil
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 4, 2015
- Citation
- 1537930
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 1537930.
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 Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD with associated depression, major depressive disorder, polysubstance dependence, cocaine dependence, alcohol dependence, and a history of heroine dependence.
- Granted
The Board granted an earlier effective date of November 27, 2013, for the grant of service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder with major depressive disorder, anxiety, and alcohol dependence due to new and relevant evidence.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, finding that personality disorders are considered congenital or developmental defects and not subject to service connection.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has denied an earlier effective date for service connection of PTSD with major depressive disorder, alcohol dependence and cannabis use disorder. The issues of entitlement to a rating in excess of 70 percent for psychiatric disability (PTSD) and TDIU based on psychiatric disability are remanded.
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