The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability is best diagnosed as panic disorder with agoraphobia, and any other conditions are considered comorbid symptoms of this primary condition.
The deciding factor: A VA psychiatrist found that the Veteran's current psychiatric diagnosis was solely panic disorder with agoraphobia, with occasional symptoms of depressed mood and obsessive behaviors arising from the underlying service-connected anxiety disorder.
- Claimed conditions
- Panic Disorder with Agoraphobia, Major Depressive Disorder (historical), Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (historical)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 30, 2016
- Citation
- 1639537
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 1639537.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
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.
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.