The Veteran's PTSD with alcohol abuse has resulted in occupational and social impairment, but not to the extent that would warrant a higher rating. The current 50 percent rating adequately reflects his symptoms.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's PTSD with alcohol abuse causes reduced reliability and productivity, as evidenced by his anxiety, avoidance behaviors, and difficulty with complex commands, but does not meet the criteria for more severe impairment such as deficiencies in most areas or total occupational and social impairment.
- Claimed conditions
- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) with alcohol abuse
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- April 10, 2018
- Citation
- 1821590
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 1821590.
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 PTSD with alcohol abuse is rated at 70 percent, which reflects the severity of his symptoms causing occupational and social impairment.
- Whole decision: 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.
- Whole decision: 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.
- Whole decision: 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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