The Veteran's anxiety disorder with panic disorder and depressive disorder associated with irritable bowel syndrome is currently rated at 50 percent, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted due to occupational and social impairment. The case is remanded for further development.
The deciding factor: The Veteran’s symptoms do not meet or approximate the criteria for a disability rating in excess of 50 percent under the General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders.
- Claimed conditions
- Anxiety Disorder, Panic Disorder, Depressive Disorder, Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 19, 2019
- Citation
- 19147817
What this means for you
A remand is not a loss. The Board sent the case back for more development — often a new exam or missing records — before making a final decision. Many remands later end in a grant, and the decision spells out exactly what the Board wanted to see.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for PTSD, generalized anxiety disorder, and somatic symptom disorder, as well as presumptive service connection for basal cell carcinoma under the PACT Act. Service connection was denied for chronic fatigue syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome, right restless leg syndrome, left restless leg syndrome, an increased rating for psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, a left forehead surgical scar, and allergic rhinitis.
- Denied
The Board denied a rating in excess of 70 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and panic disorder, finding the Veteran's symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.
- Partly granted
The Board granted an initial increased rating of 50 percent for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability from March 8, 2010, to May 19, 2014, and denied a higher rating thereafter.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including GAD, MDD, unspecified depressive disorder, and panic disorder.
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