The Board denied an increased rating for the Veteran's insomnia disorder, finding that his symptoms did not warrant a higher disability rating.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's symptoms of depressed mood, anxiety, and chronic sleep impairment more closely approximated the criteria for a 30 percent rating, resulting in occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks, although generally functioning satisfactorily, with normal routine behavior, self-care, and conversation.
- Claimed conditions
- Insomnia Disorder, Lumbosacral Spine Degenerative Arthritis with Intervertebral Disc Syndrome
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 9, 2025
- Citation
- A25050617
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 Board remands the claim for service connection of a psychiatric disability, including PTSD, major depressive disorder, and insomnia disorder, due to unverified stressors and the need for a VA examination.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, as well as remanded certain issues for further development.
- Partly granted
The Board denied a rating greater than 70 percent for PTSD and granted service connection for tinnitus, while denying service connection for bilateral hearing loss, obstructive sleep apnea, pain dysfunction in the right shoulder, and hypertension.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a 70 percent rating for the Veteran's mental health disability from May 17, 2021, to September 20, 2022, but denied a higher rating thereafter.
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