The Veteran's initial evaluations for panic disorder with agoraphobia and residuals of an excised pilonidal cyst have been granted, but at the lowest possible ratings due to the severity of her symptoms.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's psychiatric disability is only mildly disabling, resulting in three symptoms: mild distractability, slight anxiousness, and frequent tearfulness. The residual scar from the excised pilonidal cyst does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation as it does not exceed 6 square inches of area.
- Claimed conditions
- Panic Disorder with Agoraphobia, Excised Pilonidal Cyst
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 0%
- Decision date
- October 26, 2009
- Citation
- 0940555
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. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 0940555.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Board has restored the Veteran's 100% rating for her psychiatric disabilities, as reducing it to 70% was improper.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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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