The Board denied an initial evaluation in excess of 70 percent for somatic symptom disorder with predominant pain, generalized anxiety disorder, and major depressive disorder, finding that the Veteran's symptoms did not more closely approximate total occupational and social impairment.
The deciding factor: The evidence does not support a finding of total occupational and social impairment due to the Veteran's mental health disability, as his symptoms are not severe enough to meet the criteria for a 100 percent rating.
- Claimed conditions
- somatic symptom disorder with predominant pain, generalized anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder, recurrent, mild, sleep apnea
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 70%
- Decision date
- May 14, 2025
- Citation
- A25043130
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 various conditions, including prostate cancer and related disabilities, urinary incontinence, sleep apnea, hypertension, varicose veins, lumbar spine disability, hip arthritis, shoulder arthritis, ankle arthritis, knee strain, knee replacement, and hand arthritis. The only condition granted was a 10 percent rating for a fracture of the right proximal first metacarpal.
- Dismissed
The claim for an earlier effective date for service connection for major depressive disorder is dismissed as moot because the earliest effective date was granted during the pendency of this appeal.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea as there is no evidence of an in-service injury or disease, and no competent evidence linking the condition to service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The appeal is remanded to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors, including the failure to obtain relevant treatment records and provide adequate VA examinations.
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