The Veteran's somatic disorder is rated at a 70 percent rating, but no higher. The Board found that the severity, frequency, and duration of his symptoms more closely approximated occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.
The deciding factor: The Board determined that the Veteran's somatic disorder resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood, due to symptoms like suicidal ideation, obsessional rituals, speech intermittently illogical, near-continuous panic or depression affecting the ability to function independently, appropriate and effectively, neglect of personal appearance and hygiene, difficulty adapting to stressful circumstances (including work or a worklike setting), and inability to establish effective relationships.
- Claimed conditions
- somatic disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 70%
- Decision date
- September 27, 2024
- Citation
- A24061588
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 A24061588.
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.
- Partly granted
The Board denied service connection for several conditions but granted it for right hip disability and assigned a 20 percent rating for right knee instability. Some issues were remanded.
- Dismissed
The veteran's appeal for higher ratings and service connection for somatic disorder, coronary artery disease, and ocular migraine headaches was dismissed because the veteran withdrew the appeal.
- Granted
The Veteran's somatic disorder has been rated at 70 percent since March 6, 2020. This rating is appropriate based on his symptoms of depressed mood, anxiety, chronic sleep impairment, disturbances of motivation and mood, difficulty in establishing and maintaining effective work and social relationships.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for further development. The left ankle impairment claim is granted with a rating of 20 percent effective July 25, 2019. Service connection for back, left shoulder, and somatic disorders are also being remanded.
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