The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's alcohol dependence disorder as secondary to his service-connected depressive disorder, finding that both conditions are linked and that the depression exacerbates the alcohol use.
The deciding factor: Service connection was granted based on a positive nexus opinion linking the Veteran's alcohol dependence disorder to his service-connected depressive disorder.
- Claimed conditions
- alcohol dependence disorder
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 26, 2023
- Citation
- 23053434
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 23053434.
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.
- Dismissed
The veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for service connection of alcohol dependence disorder was dismissed because the veteran withdrew the appeal.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders and a need for additional private treatment records.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for alcohol dependence disorder secondary to service-connected depressive disorder, finding that the Veteran's lay evidence regarding the relationship between his depression and drinking was not credible. The medical opinions provided did not support a finding of secondary service connection.
- Denied
The Board has vacated the July 2021 decision denying service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and sleep apnea. The Veteran's claims were denied as there was no credible supporting evidence of a stressor event, and his diagnoses are not linked to in-service events.
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