The veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder, most often diagnosed as a mood disorder not otherwise specified, is currently rated at 70 percent. The evidence does not support an evaluation in excess of this rating.
The deciding factor: The clinical evidence on file consistently shows symptoms that do not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation under Diagnostic Code 9435 (unspecified mood disorders), including suicidal ideation and obsessional rituals which interfere with routine activities, intermittently illogical, obscure or irrelevant speech, near-continuous panic or depression, spatial disorientation, neglect of personal appearance and hygiene, and there are no symptoms of total occupational and social impairment.
- Claimed conditions
- Mood Disorder Not Otherwise Specified
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- January 5, 2006
- Citation
- 0600203
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,514 · Granted: 19% (granted or partly granted, in the indexed 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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 0600203.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding a disability rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD (previously rated as mood disorder not otherwise specified, also claimed as sleep disturbances).
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's mental health disability, characterized as PTSD with mood disorder not otherwise specified, borderline personality disorder and stimulant use disorder, is now rated at a higher level of 50 percent but no higher. The rating reflects the current severity of her symptoms which result in total occupational and social impairment.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, depressive disorder, and a mood disorder not otherwise specified, has been reopened. The Board also remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the claimed in-service stressors and the need for a new VA examination.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case for further development, including seeking opinions regarding the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disabilities and their relationship to service.
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