The Veteran's somatoform disorder is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board finds that his symptoms do not warrant a higher rating as they are less severe than those contemplated by a 50 percent rating.
The deciding factor: The evidence does not demonstrate symptoms more indicative of the next higher, 50 percent rating under Diagnostic Code 9421, such as flattened affect; circumstantial, circumlocutory, or stereotyped speech; panic attacks more than once a week; difficulty in understanding complex commands; impairment of short-and long-term memory; impaired judgment; impaired abstract thinking; disturbance of motivation and mood.
- Claimed conditions
- somatoform disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- February 3, 2024
- Citation
- 24005918
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 24005918.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is remanded for the AOJ to adjudicate her claims of CUE regarding the May 2013 and August 2014 rating decisions.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and treatment records consideration, requiring further examinations and opinions to determine service connection for psychiatric disorders.
- Granted
The Veteran's major depressive disorder and somatoform disorder are granted as service connected. The claim for PTSD is remanded due to inadequate VA examination.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for somatoform disorder, finding no evidence of a nexus between her current diagnosis and active duty or as secondary to her service-connected PTSD.
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.