The Board found that the veteran's pre-existing simple phobia did not permanently increase in severity during service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.
The deciding factor: The veteran's pre-existing simple phobia was not aggravated by active service.
- Claimed conditions
- simple phobia
- How they argued it
- Aggravation of a pre-existing condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- November 14, 2002
- Citation
- 0216382
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 0216382.
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: Dismissed
The appeal with respect to service connection for PTSD was dismissed due to the Veteran being fully compensated for all of his psychiatric symptoms through a grant of service connection for unspecified depressive disorder and simple phobia.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's mental disability is rated at 70 percent, effective July 28, 2009. The rating for headaches prior to July 25, 2019 was granted at 30 percent and since then has been increased to 50 percent. TDIU remains pending.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for service connection for generalized anxiety, including panic disorder and simple phobia, is being remanded due to the lack of available service treatment records from her deployment in Pakistan. The Board finds a VA examination necessary to determine the nature and etiology of her claimed conditions.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including simple phobia and post-traumatic stress disorder, is manifested by moderate occupational and social impairment.
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