The Veteran's primary insomnia and nightmare disorder have resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood. However, the evidence does not support a higher rating due to total occupational and social impairment.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's psychiatric symptoms do not meet the criteria for a 100% disability rating throughout the appeal period.
- Claimed conditions
- primary insomnia, nightmare disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 70%
- Decision date
- May 25, 2017
- Citation
- 1718616
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 1718616.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's sleep apnea is being remanded for a new medical opinion to determine if it is at least as likely as not caused or aggravated by his service-connected unspecified depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder and nightmare disorder.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain an addendum medical opinion and to obtain any outstanding treatment records from Dr. Levi Kirkland.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected nightmare disorder is now rated at 70 percent from May 6, 2025. Prior to that date, the rating remains at 30 percent.
- Denied
The Veteran's primary insomnia is productive of occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, but does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.
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