If you’re planning to go through the VA and want your claim to be taken seriously, you’ve got to frame it properly. You can’t just say, “I drank a bottle of Jack instead of taking Norco when I busted my foot.” That kind of story won’t hold up. Instead, it has to be in the context of, “I drank to cope with my PTSD,” or, “My depression pushed me to drink.” That’s the kind of narrative that gets recognized.

Why? Because alcohol use disorder has to be secondary to a mental health condition. And the VA is pretty strict — they’ll look for any reason to say it’s willful misconduct. That’s their language when they want to dismiss your claim. If your terminology or the story you present isn’t right, you’re out of luck. I’ve seen it happen over and over again.

What They Look for on Paper

Here’s what it might look like in writing from the VA: “Alcohol use disorder — less than 50% probability — less likely than not.” Translation: your claim is sunk. They’ll say your service records are “silent,” or that you don’t meet the criteria for a major mood disorder. But if your file shows alcohol use disorder without a connected mental health condition, they’ll run with that. It’s tough, I know.

I’ve been diagnosed with a few things: PTSD, generalized anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder, episodic alcohol use disorder, and somatic symptom disorder. That earned me a 70% rating. To be honest, I think that’s fair. I’ve got some stuff that maybe falls under the 100% rating, but 70% feels right to me. What I wouldn’t do is file alcohol use disorder by itself. Same goes for insomnia. They just don’t go that far on their own.

Pick the Right Mental Health Claim

Go for something like major depressive disorder or generalized anxiety disorder. These are claims that can take you up to 70%, even 100%. PTSD is a little trickier because you have to prove a specific stressor event, but it pays the same. And once you’re in that mental health lane, alcohol use can be acknowledged as part of the picture — not the headline.

Keep your story consistent. That’s huge. I’ve been telling the same one for 30 years. I started drinking young — 10 or 11 — because I liked to party. That’s how I talked about it to the VA when I was a kid. But when combat PTSD hit in January of 1991, my life changed. That’s when I started drinking not for fun, but to escape. And that’s how I talk about it now. It’s not a changing story — just a deeper understanding of it over time.

They’ll Try to Pin It Elsewhere

The VA might try to pin your alcoholism on pre-service behavior or post-service lifestyle. They’ll do anything to avoid connecting it to mental health. That’s why you’ve got to be clear and consistent. I’ve never gone to AA. Those kinds of programs aren’t for me. I don’t do well with schedules, phone calls, or calendars. What works for me is talking about it in videos and writing like this. It’s therapy in its own way.

So yeah, if you’re filing a claim and alcohol use disorder comes up — don’t run from it. Just place it in the proper context. It was part of how I survived, part of how I coped. And if you’re anything like me, make sure the VA hears that story the right way.