The Board denied claims for service connection for various conditions, including alcohol dependence and its secondary effects on other conditions, finding that the evidence did not support a link between these conditions and service.
The deciding factor: The Board determined that there was no clear and unmistakable evidence of pre-existing alcohol dependence in service, and found insufficient medical opinions to establish a relationship between service-connected posttraumatic vascular headaches and alcohol dependence. The claims for secondary service connection were also denied due to lack of credible evidence of continuity of symptoms.
- Claimed conditions
- alcohol dependence, late effect traumatic brain injury (TBI), anterior vermis syndrome, alcoholic polyneuropathy
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- January 5, 2021
- Citation
- 21000622
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 21000622.
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: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty-to-assist error, and will need to obtain an opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability with alcohol dependence.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, anxiety, depression, alcohol dependence, and anger issues. The denial is based on a lack of verified stressor in service linking these conditions to service, as well as a lack of medical nexus connecting them to service.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board granted service connection for alcohol dependence and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, both secondary to service-connected conditions.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for alcohol dependence, finding no current disability. The remaining issues are remanded for further development.
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