The Board denied an increased rating for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that his symptoms are more closely approximated by a 50 percent evaluation than a higher one.
The deciding factor: The Veteran’s symptoms do not meet the criteria for a 70 percent evaluation due to occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.
- Claimed conditions
- social anxiety disorder, body dysmorphic disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 50%
- Decision date
- January 16, 2019
- Citation
- 19103928
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.
- Dismissed
The appeal was dismissed as a matter of law, except for the grant of an initial rating of 10 percent for right knee limitation of extension.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a psychiatric disorder to obtain an adequate VA medical opinion.
- Denied
The Board denied an initial evaluation in excess of 50 percent for a psychiatric disability prior to August 5, 2023, and an evaluation in excess of 70 percent from that date. The Veteran's psychiatric disability was found to result in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that there was clear and unmistakable evidence that his pre-existing psychiatric disorders did not worsen during service. The Board also found no in-service incurrence of a psychiatric disorder.
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