The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for persistent somatic symptom disorder, finding that it is at least as likely as not caused by his service-connected fracture right fourth finger status post open reduction internal fixation with retained hardware and benign essential tremor of both hands.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the private medical opinions linking the Veteran's persistent somatic symptom disorder to his service-connected conditions outweighed the VA examiner's negative opinion, resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.
- Claimed conditions
- persistent somatic symptom disorder, fracture right fourth finger status post open reduction internal fixation with retained hardware, benign essential tremor of both hands
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 2, 2020
- Citation
- 20037454
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 20037454.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's persistent somatic symptom disorder is rated at 70 percent from October 26, 2020 to the present. The TDIU claim for July 31, 2021 and earlier is granted with an effective date of July 31, 2021.
- Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's headaches are at least as likely as not caused by his service-connected traumatic brain injury, and thus grants service connection for this condition.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hypertension and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.
- Granted
The Veteran's major depressive disorder is found to be caused by his service-connected low back and radiculopathy disabilities, which prevent him from doing enjoyable activities and daily living tasks.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.