Key legal question
Whether the claimant’s alcohol dependence and possible psychiatric disorder constitute disability under IVG/ATSG
Extracted holding
Current records did not permit a final assessment; a psychiatric expert opinion was required to determine whether a relevant health disorder existed.
Extracted reasoning
Alcoholism alone is not disabling, but may be relevant if caused by or linked to a health disorder of disease value. The file contained indications of long-standing functional impairment and conflicting psychiatric references, so the matter was not sufficiently clarified.