The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including social anxiety disorder and unspecified depressive disorder, is rated at 70 percent effective July 13, 2017. The Board found that the condition warranted a higher rating due to occupational and social impairment.
The deciding factor: The VA examiners noted that the Veteran experienced irritability, isolation, poor judgment, and difficulty in establishing work and social relationships, which supported an increased rating of 70 percent.
- Claimed conditions
- Social Anxiety Disorder, Other unspecified depressive disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 70%
- Decision date
- January 25, 2023
- Citation
- 23004799
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 23004799.
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 PTSD symptoms have been rated at 50 percent from July 18, 2018 to January 22, 2023. From January 23, 2023, the rating is denied as it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.
- Denied
An initial rating of 50 percent, and no higher, from February 1, 2023, to October 21, 2024, for Social Anxiety Disorder is granted.,A rating in excess of 70 percent from October 22, 2024, forward for Social Anxiety Disorder is denied.
- 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.
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