The Veteran's claim for a higher rating and earlier effective date for service-connected Social Anxiety Disorder is granted. The initial rating of 50% is upheld, but the effective date is set at September 20, 2015.
The deciding factor: The evidence showed that the Veteran experienced occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity due to his symptoms, warranting a 50% disability rating. The claim for an earlier effective date was denied as it did not meet the criteria of having arisen prior to September 20, 2015.
- Claimed conditions
- Social Anxiety Disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 50%
- Decision date
- October 18, 2019
- Citation
- 19179619
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder to correct a duty-to-assist error related to proper notice and development of evidence regarding in-service personal assault.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as PTSD, major depressive disorder, and social anxiety disorder, related to the Veteran's active service.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an increased disability rating and individual unemployability, finding that his service-connected conditions did not meet the criteria for higher ratings or TDIU.
- Denied
The veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, right foot disorder, left foot disorder, bilateral tinea pedis, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation likely secondary to folliculitis, and hypertension were denied. The veteran was not granted any of the benefits sought.
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