The Veteran's petition to reopen claims for adjustment disorder and alcohol use disorder, idiopathic polyneuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) have all been granted.,Service connection has also been established for these conditions on a secondary basis due to their relationship with service-connected disabilities.
The deciding factor: The evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's adjustment disorder and alcohol use disorder are related to service, leading to the grant of service connection.,The evidence is also at least in equipoise as to whether the idiopathic polyneuropathy of the upper and lower extremities and GERD are proximately due to his service-connected alcohol use disorder and cervical strain, low back strain, and knee disabilities, respectively.
- Claimed conditions
- Adjustment Disorder, Alcohol Use Disorder, Idiopathic Polyneuropathy of the Left Lower Extremity, Idiopathic Polyneuropathy of the Right Lower Extremity, Idiopathic Polyneuropathy of the Left Upper Extremity, Idiopathic Polyneuropathy of the Right Upper Extremity, Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 22, 2020
- Citation
- 20080655
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,500 · Granted: 29% (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 20080655.
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 is related to fear of hostile military or terrorist activity in Vietnam, and his alcohol use disorder is due to his PTSD. Service connection for PTSD with alcohol use disorder has been granted.
- Granted
The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is granted a 70% rating, effective July 15, 2024. The Veteran's GERD remains at a 10% rating.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for PTSD with alcohol use disorder was denied, and he was granted a TDIU. The Board found that the symptoms did not meet criteria for a 100% disability rating.
- Granted
The Veteran's PTSD is granted at a 70 percent rating prior to July 29, 2024. The GERD rating remains at 30 percent disabled but no higher.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.