The veteran's panic disorder with agoraphobia and undifferentiated somatoform disorder renders him demonstrably unable to obtain or retain employment, warranting a total evaluation. The effective date for service connection of obstructive sleep apnea is denied as it stems from a claim filed on April 12, 1999. The earlier effective date for the total evaluation based upon individual unemployability is also denied.
The deciding factor: The veteran's disability has resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity due to symptoms such as flattened affect, panic attacks more than once a week, difficulty understanding complex commands, impaired judgment, and disturbances of motivation and mood. His disability has led to total occupational and social impairment.
- Claimed conditions
- Panic Disorder with Agoraphobia, Undifferentiated Somatoform Disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- May 24, 2001
- Citation
- 0114527
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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 0114527.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board allowed the benefit or issue identified in this decision. Review the original order: other issues in the same appeal may have a different outcome, and this decision does not predict another claim.
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 Board has restored the Veteran's 100% rating for her psychiatric disabilities, as reducing it to 70% was improper.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board has determined that the reduction in the disability evaluation for panic disorder from 70 percent to 50 percent, effective December 1, 2019, was improper and is void ab initio. The Veteran's service-connected panic disorder with agoraphobia remains at a 70 percent rating.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's ratings for right and left shoulder subluxation were restored to 20% effective September 1, 2019.,A staged increased rating of 70% was granted for panic disorder with agoraphobia from March 7, 2019, through October 10, 2022.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder, upper back disability, and head injury residuals are being remanded due to the need for additional development including VA examinations.
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