The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for an increased rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD with alcohol use disorder in remission, as the severity, frequency, and duration of symptoms did not more closely approximate occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's symptoms were found to result in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, which more nearly approximates a 50 percent rating. However, the criteria for a higher 70 percent evaluation were not met as his symptoms did not cause deficiencies in most areas such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood.
- Claimed conditions
- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) with alcohol use disorder in remission
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 4, 2025
- Citation
- A25019488
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 132 · Granted: 30% (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 A25019488.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected IBS, migraines, and PTSD with alcohol use disorder in remission are all granted. The Veteran is assigned a 50% disability rating for his migraines.
- Granted
The Veteran's PTSD with alcohol use disorder in remission is granted an initial evaluation of 50 percent, effective May 7, 2013. The appeal for a higher evaluation is denied.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar myositis, psychoneurosis and conversion hysteria, residuals of shrapnel wounds of the left thigh and pelvis with retained foreign bodies and scars, and residuals of shell fragment wounds of the right thigh and left leg. The veteran was also denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected coronary artery disease, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the severity of his condition.
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.