The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral ankle disability was not incurred in active service and denied his claim. The psychiatric disability, specifically adjustment disorder with depression and anxiety, is considered to be related to post-service stressors rather than service.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner found no evidence of a current psychiatric disability being present during service or due to an in-service event, but noted that the Veteran's symptoms began after separation from active duty. The Board also found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for PTSD as his screening was negative and he had no other Axis I diagnoses.
- Claimed conditions
- Adjustment Disorder with Depression and Anxiety, Mild Depression (NOS)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 1, 2014
- Citation
- 1429819
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 1429819.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities not meeting the schedular requirements for TDIU, and his employment in a protected work environment.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include major depressive disorder and adjustment disorder with depression and anxiety, finding that the Veteran's symptoms had their onset during his active duty service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's current Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is aggravated by his service-connected Adjustment Disorder with Depression and Anxiety.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's PTSD with adjustment disorder, depression and anxiety prior to September 1, 2015 was rated at 70 percent disabling. The Board found that the symptoms did not warrant a higher evaluation.
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