The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for somatic symptom disorder due to a lack of evidence supporting a current diagnosis.
The deciding factor: The January 2024 VA examination did not diagnose the Veteran with any somatic disability, and there is no additional medical evidence indicating such a diagnosis or symptoms.
- Claimed conditions
- somatic symptom disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 30, 2024
- Citation
- A24070242
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.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for somatic symptom disorder, respiratory disorders (including COPD), nephrolithiasis, deviated nasal septum, and higher initial disability ratings for PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder with anxious distress and GERD, hiatal hernia, reflux esophagitis, Barrett's esophagus.
- Denied
The Board denied restoration of the 30 percent ratings for left knee arthritis (flexion), left knee strain arthritis (extension), and left knee instability, as well as a 20 percent rating for left ankle chronic sprain. The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were also denied.
- Partly granted
The Board granted an earlier effective date of April 20, 2021 for total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) and basic eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance but denied a higher rating than 50 percent for somatic symptom disorder from June 13, 2024 to February 12, 2025.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for a supplemental medical opinion regarding the severity of the Veteran's knee and ankle disabilities without medication, as well as an opinion on the etiology of his psychiatric conditions.
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