The Veteran's service-connected pain disorder is currently rated at 70 percent from November 30, 2015 to January 8, 2020. The Board denied a rating in excess of 70 percent for the disability during this period.
The deciding factor: The severity, frequency, and duration of the Veteran's pain disorder symptoms did not more closely approximate total occupational and social impairment from November 30, 2015 to January 8, 2020.
- Claimed conditions
- pain disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 70%
- Decision date
- October 6, 2020
- Citation
- 20064947
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,350 · Granted: 26% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 20064947.
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 Veteran's mental health disability caused occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, warranting a 70 percent rating. The disability did not cause total occupational and social impairment.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for pain disorder and acquired psychiatric disability due to a failure to provide VA examinations.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board vacated its previous decision denying a higher rating for the veteran's pain disorder due to procedural errors. The case was remanded for further review.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have been found to preclude him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation since March 3, 2006. The Board has granted entitlement to TDIU effective that date.
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.