The Board found that the appellant does not have a current diagnosis of an acquired psychiatric disorder related to military service. The examiner stated that his adjustment disorder with mixed mood is secondary to multiple medical problems and unrelated to military service, while mild mental retardation was present prior to service and did not worsen during service.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner concluded that the appellant does not meet diagnostic criteria for an acquired psychiatric condition related to military service and stated that his behavior problems are consistent with a developmental deficit (mild mental retardation) rather than a psychiatric disorder.
- Claimed conditions
- adjustment disorder with mixed mood, mild mental retardation
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- July 24, 2006
- Citation
- 0621896
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,421 · Granted: 29% (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 0621896.
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: Granted
The Veteran's TDIU was granted effective March 1, 2024, based on his service-connected mental health disability and OSA. The effective date for the increased rating of mental health disability is November 1, 2023.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's stepdaughter, K.J., is claimed to be a 'helpless' child due to her mild mental retardation and bilateral leg condition. The Board has ordered the VA to obtain private treatment records from Harwood Center and any related Department of Labor records.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Appellant's participation in Exercise Intrinsic Action in 1997 and his psychiatric condition during service. The AOJ will gather additional records, including from D Co, 2-5 CAV, 1st CAV DIV, and obtain updated treatment records.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's daughter, J.C., was found to be permanently incapable of self-support prior to her 18th birthday due to various disabilities. The Board granted recognition as a helpless child.
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