The Veteran's adjustment disorder with depressed mood is currently rated at 50 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The Veteran’s degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine has been rated based on its impact on his work and daily life.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's symptoms do not meet the criteria for a 70% disability rating due to occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood. The evidence does not show significant impairments in these areas.
- Claimed conditions
- adjustment disorder with depressed mood, degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 50%
- Decision date
- October 25, 2018
- Citation
- 18144906
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 18144906.
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 an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea, as there is no current disability. The issues of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine are remanded due to inadequate examination reports.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, left shoulder, and bilateral plantar fasciitis. The appeal was also granted to reopen a claim for service connection for bilateral hip disability.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew his appeal for special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance due to service-connected conditions.
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