The appeal for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including adjustment disorder and somatic symptom disorder, was dismissed as the Veteran met the criteria for unspecified anxiety disorder, which has already been granted.
The deciding factor: There is no case or controversy regarding entitlement to service connection for adjustment disorder and somatic symptom disorder since the Veteran meets the criteria for unspecified anxiety disorder, and that condition has already been awarded service connection.
- Claimed conditions
- adjustment disorder, somatic symptom disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 11, 2025
- Citation
- A25051109
What this means for you
A dismissal means the Board did not decide the issue on its merits — usually because it was withdrawn or had become moot. It says more about procedure than about whether a claim like this can win.
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 for an acquired psychiatric disorder to ensure a proper examination and etiology opinion are provided.
- 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.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for adjustment disorder, finding it was related to fear for his life while flying combat missions during Operation Desert Shield/Storm.
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This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.