The veteran's anxiety/depression is rated at the highest possible evaluation of 70 percent, while his cervical spine disability and low back strain are each rated at 20 percent. The bilateral knee strain and irritable bowel syndrome do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.
The deciding factor: The veteran's anxiety/depression meets the criteria for a 70 percent evaluation under Diagnostic Code 9400, as it causes occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas due to symptoms such as near continuous depression or manic episodes affecting ability to function independently, intermittent suicidal ideation, poor concentration, hypervigilence, exaggerated startle response, and sleep difficulty.
- Claimed conditions
- Anxiety/depression, Status post diskectomy of the cervical spine, Low back strain, Bilateral knee strain, Irritable bowel syndrome
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 70%
- Decision date
- March 10, 2003
- Citation
- 0304119
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,177 · Granted: 24% (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 0304119.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to errors in the initial decision and a need for additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's gastrointestinal condition and right shoulder disability.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's hearing loss and low back strain claims are remanded for further evaluation. The hearing loss claim is denied, while the low back strain claim requires additional examination to determine its severity.
- Dismissed
The Board dismissed the appeal for service connection of irritable bowel syndrome (claimed as IBS-Gulf War Syndrome) due to withdrawal by the Veteran. The claim for tinnitus was granted.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for low back strain, left shoulder, and supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) based on evidence showing a causal relationship to in-service events or injuries.
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