The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for adjustment disorder with depression and anxiety prior to October 14, 2015 was denied as the evidence did not show occupational and social impairment with decreased work efficiency or intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's symptoms were predominantly characterized by depressed mood, anxiety, and chronic sleep impairment, which are consistent with a 30 percent rating under Diagnostic Code 9400 for adjustment disorder with depression and anxiety.
- Claimed conditions
- adjustment disorder with depression and anxiety
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- January 31, 2020
- Citation
- 20007798
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,156 · Granted: 29% (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 20007798.
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.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal was dismissed as the request for an extension of time to file a Board Appeal request was not timely and good cause has not been shown.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including adjustment disorder with depression and anxiety, depressive disorder, and PTSD. The decision also grants service connection for PTSD based on a personal assault during boot camp.
- Denied
The Board denied a rating higher than 30 percent for the Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disability and remanded the claim for service connection for sleep apnea.
- Granted
The Veteran's adjustment disorder with depression and anxiety is related to his service-connected lumbar spine disability, which has been granted. The TDIU issue remains pending as the RO has not yet implemented the grant of service connection for the psychiatric condition.
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