The Board has remanded the claim for an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for somatic symptom disorder due to insufficient evidence and further development is needed.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner's assessment did not meet the criteria for a higher rating as per the General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders, which requires occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.
- Claimed conditions
- Somatic Symptom Disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- May 5, 2023
- Citation
- 23026425
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 23026425.
What this means for you
A remand sends an issue back for more development, often a new examination or missing records. It does not award the benefit or decide the final outcome. The original decision explains the additional work ordered.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected hypertension and somatic symptom disorder are denied. The Board has remanded the claims for cardiovascular, peripheral artery disease, and lung cancer with emphysema.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's claims for service connection for somatic symptom disorder with PTSD and right shoulder strain were granted, but the effective dates are set to December 26, 2019, based on new evidence submitted after a previous final decision.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty-to-assist error and needs additional information from a VA examiner regarding the Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disabilities, including specific phobia of natural environment.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted the Veteran's appeal, finding that reducing his PTSD rating from 50% to 30% was improper and that severing service connection for vertigo and combining it with tinnitus ratings were also improper.
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