The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for various service-connected disabilities, including anxiety disorder with PTSD and alcohol use disorder, was denied. The right shoulder, left shoulder, right hip, left hip, right knee, and left knee disabilities were all denied secondary to the primary disability of anxiety disorder with PTSD and alcohol use disorder. Service connection for a skin disorder other than lipoma and soft tissue sarcoma (currently diagnosed as actinic keratoses) was also denied.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service-connected anxiety disorder with PTSD and alcohol use disorder resulted in total occupational and social impairment, but the secondary disabilities were not found to be causally related to these primary conditions.
- Claimed conditions
- Anxiety Disorder with PTSD, Alcohol Use Disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 70%
- Decision date
- August 19, 2022
- Citation
- 22047189
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 22047189.
What this means for you
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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.
- 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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical evidence regarding the Veteran's PTSD and bipolar disorder, as well as a failure to provide an adequate VA examination prior to the rating decision.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, unspecified depressive disorder, alcohol use disorder, and cocaine use disorder due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.
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