The Board granted service connection for somatization disorder, finding that the evidence was at least in approximate balance as to whether the Veteran had a somatization disorder during the appeal period related to his service-connected depression.
The deciding factor: The Board resolved reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran and found that the somatization component existed as part of the service-connected depressive disorder, warranting grant of service connection.
- Claimed conditions
- somatization disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 100%
- Decision date
- March 20, 2025
- Citation
- 25003803
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,890 · Granted: 32% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 25003803.
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 granted an initial disability rating of 70 percent for somatization disorder and major depressive disorder, but denied a higher rating for right hip strain.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected PTSD renders him in need of regular aid and attendance, warranting special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's OSA is remanded for a new opinion to determine if it is caused by or aggravated by his service-connected right radial neuropathy, obesity, and/or nasal fracture with deviated septum. The issue of service connection for the nasal fracture with deviated septum is also remanded.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including acute intermittent porphyria with iron deficiency anemia, somatization disorder, left and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, left knee instability, left knee chondromalacia patella, and right knee chondromalacia patella, have at least as likely as not prevented him from engaging in substantially gainful employment since 13 December 2011. The Board granted an effective date of 13 December 2011 for the TDIU.
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