The Veteran's claim for a separate disability rating for insomnia disorder is denied because the symptoms of his insomnia disorder are already encompassed in his existing service-connected psychiatric disabilities.
The deciding factor: The Veteran’s insomnia disorder encompasses the same symptomatology as his service-connected psychiatric disabilities, including MDD and social anxiety disorder.
- Claimed conditions
- Insomnia disorder, Major depressive disorder (MDD), Somatic symptom disorder, Social anxiety disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 70%
- Decision date
- December 15, 2020
- Citation
- A20018625
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 A20018625.
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 determined that the Veteran's service-connected Major Depressive Disorder contributed to his death from a Cerebral Vascular Accident (CVA). The claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death is therefore granted.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal seeking an increased rating for PTSD (now evaluated as insomnia disorder) is dismissed because the Board has already adjudicated a similar issue in another docket.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date and higher initial rating for his back disability is denied. The effective date remains March 29, 2021, as the earliest date of claim. An initial rating in excess of 20 percent for the back disability from March 29, 2021, is also denied.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders and their relationship to service.
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