The Veteran's service-connected adjustment disorder with depression results in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity. The Board has determined that the current rating of 50 percent is appropriate.
The deciding factor: The Veteran’s symptoms, including depressed mood, anxiety, panic attacks, chronic sleep impairment, flattened affect, disturbances of motivation and mood, and difficulty establishing effective work and social relationships, align with the criteria for a 50 percent rating under the General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders (DC 9440).
- Claimed conditions
- Adjustment Disorder with Depression
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 50%
- Decision date
- October 3, 2019
- Citation
- 19176529
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,820 · Granted: 26% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted 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. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 19176529.
What this means for you
A remand is not a loss. The Board sent the case back for more development — often a new exam or missing records — before making a final decision. Many remands later end in a grant, and the decision spells out exactly what the Board wanted to see.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected PTSD results in occupational and social impairment, but does not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The Board has granted an initial disability rating of 70 percent.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that the Veteran requires personal care services due to a need for supervision, protection or instruction without which his ability to function in daily life would be seriously impaired. The appeal is remanded to determine if it is in the best interest of the Veteran to participate in the PCAFC program and provide complete notice as required by law.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's anxiety disorder unspecified to include adjustment disorder with depression has been rated at 50 percent since April 10, 2024. The Board is remanding the case for further development and consideration of a higher rating.
- Granted
The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have caused occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, warranting an initial 70 percent disability rating.
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