The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of March 23, 2018, for a 30 percent rating for somatic symptoms disorder. The most probative evidence did not show that the condition more nearly approximated criteria for a compensable rating prior to this date.
The deciding factor: The most recent VA examination report indicated that the Veteran's somatic symptoms disorder was not severe enough to warrant a higher rating, and there were no records showing increased severity in the period before March 23, 2018.
- Claimed conditions
- somatic symptoms disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- May 19, 2020
- Citation
- 20034878
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 20034878.
What this means for you
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What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Veteran meets the schedular criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) from January 8, 2018, to March 29, 2022.,Prior to January 8, 2018, the Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal seeking service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder has been dismissed as he requested to withdraw the claim.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted a TDIU effective June 10, 2016.
- Denied
The Veteran's psychiatric disorder, including somatic symptoms disorder with predominant pain disorder symptoms, insomnia disorder, and other specified trauma and stressor related disorder (PTSD), has been rated at 70 percent since December 2014. The Board found that the severity of his symptoms did not meet or approximate the criteria for a 100 percent rating.
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