The Board denied an earlier effective date for the 100 percent evaluation of PTSD with alcohol use disorder and basic eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance, finding no evidence that supported a date prior to April 29, 2020.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's PTSD did not manifest or approximate total occupational and social impairment prior to the effective date of the 100 percent evaluation for PTSD, and he did not meet the criteria for basic eligibility of Dependents' Educational Assistance prior to that date.
- Claimed conditions
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) with alcohol use disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- April 16, 2025
- Citation
- A25035283
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 831 · Granted: 48% (granted or partly granted, in the indexed 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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation A25035283.
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: Granted
The Veteran is granted an earlier effective date of January 9, 2023 for a 70% evaluation for PTSD with alcohol use disorder and for individual unemployability.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's requests for effective dates prior to August 7, 2023, for increased evaluations of his PTSD with alcohol use disorder and chronic sinusitis. The conditions were already service-connected before the PACT Act.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The Board granted an earlier effective date of May 29, 2018, for the 70 percent rating assigned for PTSD with alcohol use disorder and denied a higher initial rating. The decision also addressed various other claims related to service connection, TDIU, DEA benefits, and special monthly compensation.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date, prior to October 22, 2024, for the grant of service connection for PTSD with alcohol use disorder.
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.