The Veteran's panic disorder is manifested by symptoms of daily panic attacks, depressed mood, stuttering, chronic sleep impairment, poor impulse control, and suicidal ideation, resulting in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity. The Board finds that a 50 percent disability rating is warranted.
The deciding factor: The November 2009 VA examination report reflects symptoms associated with a 50 percent rating, including disturbances of motivation and mood (i.e., easily provoked and 'bad temper'), daily panic attacks, difficulty maintaining effective work relationships (i.e., quitting job after becoming angry with co-workers and supervisor), and impaired judgment (i.e., trying to run over a friend with her car).
- Claimed conditions
- Panic Disorder without agoraphobia
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 50%
- Decision date
- November 25, 2013
- Citation
- 1338725
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 1338725.
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 granted the appellant's claims for service connection for PTSD, GAD and panic disorder without agoraphobia, MDD, and AUD. The appeal regarding sleep disturbances is denied as there are no other non-substance-use related disorders that have been diagnosed.
- Granted
The Veteran's MDD and panic disorder without agoraphobia are granted as secondary to his service-connected traumatic arthritis of the thoracic spine with residuals of lumbar laminectomy and urinary incontinence.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to the need for further development, including obtaining federal employment records and scheduling a psychiatric examination.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for a higher rating of 70 percent for panic disorder without agoraphobia was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show total occupational and social impairment, warranting a 100 percent rating. Service connection for hearing loss in the right ear was also denied due to lack of current evidence meeting VA standards.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.