The Board denied a rating higher than 50 percent for adjustment disorder with depressed mood based on the veteran's symptoms not meeting the criteria for a 70 percent rating.
The deciding factor: The veteran's symptoms, while severe, did not meet the criteria for occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas as required for a 70 percent rating under the General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders.
- Claimed conditions
- Adjustment Disorder with Depressed Mood
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 29, 2009
- Citation
- 0903167
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.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, but denied service connection for sinusitis. The Board also granted initial ratings of 20%, 30%, and 70% for right knee osteoarthritis, left knee osteoarthritis, and adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, respectively.
- Partly granted
The Board granted an effective date of April 30, 2020, for the award of service connection for adjustment disorder with depressed mood and denied increased ratings for left foot cuneiform fracture, left lower extremity anterior tibial (deep peroneal) nerve impairment, and facial scars.
- Partly granted
The Veteran's adjustment disorder with depressed mood was granted a 70 percent rating, but erectile dysfunction was denied a compensable rating.
- Denied
The Board denied an initial disability rating in excess of 30 percent for the Veteran's service-connected adjustment disorder with depressed mood, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating.
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