The Veteran's alcohol abuse is granted as secondary to his service-connected major depressive disorder. The appeals for dizziness, loss of balance, and syncope are dismissed because these symptoms are already considered in the rating assigned for tonic-clonic seizures.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's alcohol abuse is proximately due to his service-connected major depressive disorder.
- Claimed conditions
- Alcohol abuse, Dizziness, Loss of balance, Syncope
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- July 25, 2022
- Citation
- 22042219
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 22042219.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence and a potential error in decision-making. The AOJ is required to provide complete notice of the decision, address all relevant evidence including billing information, and re-adjudicate the claim under section 1725.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for hand tremors and insomnia, but denied service connection for muscle pain disorder, joint pain disorder, right lower extremity neurological disorder, left lower extremity neurological disorder, chronic fatigue disorder, digestive disorder, and syncope.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for SMC based on the need for aid and attendance is remanded due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The Board finds that an examination is needed to determine if the Veteran requires aid and attendance of another person due to his service-connected disabilities alone.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for TBI, finding that there is no current disability and insufficient evidence to establish a link between in-service events and his current symptoms.
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