The Veteran's adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood is granted a 30 percent rating, effective prior to July 13, 2015. Service connection for gastrointestinal disability (H. Pylori) is granted. The Veteran’s post-surgical residuals of the right small finger are rated at zero percent. Service connection for functional impairment of right hand grip and strength is granted. For the period prior to November 10, 2014, a rating in excess of 30 percent for bilateral pes planus is denied.
The deciding factor: The evidence established that the Veteran's adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood resulted in occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks prior to July 13, 2015. Service connection for gastrointestinal disability (H. Pylori) was granted based on a history of symptoms during service and continued since service. The post-surgical residuals of the right small finger were rated at zero percent due to interference with overall hand function. For the period prior to November 10, 2014, the Veteran's pes planus did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.
- Claimed conditions
- Adjustment Disorder with Mixed Anxiety and Depressed Mood, Gastrointestinal Disability, identified as Helicobacter pylori
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- November 29, 2019
- Citation
- 19190018
Veterans Law Judge
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 19190018.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating of 70 percent for service-connected Adjustment Disorder with Mixed Anxiety and Depressed Mood is granted. The remaining issues are remanded for further evaluation.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate opinions in the current file, and thus the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability will be reconsidered with new evidence.
- Granted
The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, finding that his current condition is related to events during his military service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that a remand is needed to correct a pre-decisional duty to assist error, and the Veteran should be afforded a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any acquired psychiatric disorders.
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