The Veteran's PTSD with alcohol dependence is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board has ordered a remand to determine if a higher rating is warranted based on increased severity since the last examination.
The deciding factor: The Veteran reported an increase in PTSD symptoms since his last VA examination, necessitating further evaluation.
- Claimed conditions
- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder with alcohol dependence
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 22, 2019
- Citation
- 19105008
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,077 · Granted: 25% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 19105008.
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 PTSD with alcohol dependence is rated at 70 percent prior to December 2, 2014 and denied for a higher rating. From December 2, 2014 onwards, the Veteran is granted a 70 percent rating.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his PTSD with alcohol dependence. The TDIU claim will also be adjudicated in light of any new evidence.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain updated evaluations and examinations for his PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The issues of service connection are also being remanded.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development and consideration of his claims, including an evaluation in excess of 50 percent for PTSD with alcohol dependence from August 16, 2004 through December 18, 2007; an evaluation in excess of 70 percent for PTSD with alcohol dependence since December 19, 2007; and a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability prior to December 19, 2007.
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