The Board denied service connection for alcohol use disorder, finding that the symptoms of alcohol use disorder were accounted for by the disability rating for persistent depressive disorder with anxious distress.
The deciding factor: The VA examination report and treatment records did not provide sufficient evidence to establish a direct link between the Veteran's alcohol use disorder and their period of active service. The Board found that the symptoms of alcohol use disorder were already included in the rating assigned for persistent depressive disorder with anxious distress, thus avoiding pyramiding.
- Claimed conditions
- alcohol use disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 22, 2025
- Citation
- A25036863
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 Board granted service connection for a liver condition, finding it to be secondary to the Veteran's service-connected depressive disorder.
- Remanded (sent back)
The appeal is remanded for further development and consideration of the Veteran's claims for service connection for various acquired psychiatric disorders.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for a psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, MDD, and alcohol use disorder, as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability and tinnitus.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew the appeal for service connection for a psychiatric disability, including depression, alcohol use disorder, cocaine use disorder, and cannabis use disorder.
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