The Veteran's obsessive-compulsive disorder with alcohol dependence is rated at 30 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating as his symptoms do not more closely approximate occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.
The deciding factor: The severity, frequency, and duration of the Veteran’s symptoms did not more closely approximate the level of impairment required for a disability rating of 50 percent or higher.
- Claimed conditions
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder, Alcohol dependence
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- October 13, 2020
- Citation
- 20066295
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,861 · Granted: 27% (granted or partly granted, in the indexed 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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 20066295.
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: Denied
The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities is denied as the effective date cannot be prior to November 3, 2022. The Veteran's entitlement arose before this date.
- Whole decision: 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.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The Veteran was granted a total disability rating for compensation based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disability (TDIU) prior to November 30, 2021, and basic eligibility for Dependents Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits effective October 26, 2020. The increased disability rating claim was denied.
- Whole decision: 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.
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