The Veteran's PTSD with alcohol abuse was previously rated at 100 percent, but the VA Regional Office (RO) reduced it to 70 percent effective June 1, 2012. The Board found that this reduction was improper and restored the original rating of 100 percent.
The deciding factor: The November and December 2011 VA examinations did not show actual improvement in the Veteran's PTSD symptomatology compared to his previous examination in June 2007, which supported a 100% rating. The RO failed to follow proper procedures for reducing the rating.
- Claimed conditions
- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) with alcohol abuse
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 100%
- Decision date
- April 11, 2017
- Citation
- 1711512
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 1711512.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Veteran's PTSD with alcohol abuse is rated at 70 percent, which reflects the severity of his symptoms causing occupational and social impairment.
- Granted
The Veteran's Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is found to be the result of obesity caused by her service-connected PTSD, with alcohol abuse. The Board granted service connection for OSA as secondary to service-connected PTSD, with alcohol abuse.
- Denied
The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, as the evidence did not support a finding that his service-connected PTSD with alcohol abuse caused or contributed to his death.
- Granted
The Board granted a 100 percent disability rating for PTSD with alcohol abuse and special monthly compensation at the housebound rate.
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