The Veteran's initial rating for adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and chronic depressed mood is denied as his symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.
The deciding factor: The Veteran’s psychiatric condition does not present with symptoms that warrant a higher than 70 percent disability rating under Diagnostic Code 9440, which requires occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas due to symptoms such as suicidal ideation, obsessional rituals, near-continuous panic or depression affecting the ability to function independently.
- Claimed conditions
- Adjustment Disorder with Mixed Anxiety and Chronic Depressed Mood
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 70%
- Decision date
- March 24, 2020
- Citation
- 20021063
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 20021063.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and chronic depressed mood is granted a rating of 50 percent effective December 7, 2023.,Service connection for restless leg syndrome of the left lower extremity (LLE) has been granted from September 5, 2024.,Service connection for restless leg syndrome of the right lower extremity (RLE) has been granted from September 5, 2024.
- Denied
The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for a 100 percent rating for her adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and chronic depressed mood is denied as the earliest she expressed intent to file a claim was June 2, 2014.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's initial rating for service-connected psychiatric conditions has been granted at a 70 percent level, effective from the date of the September 2021 Higher-Level Review decision. The issue of TDIU remains pending and is being remanded.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar myositis, psychoneurosis and conversion hysteria, residuals of shrapnel wounds of the left thigh and pelvis with retained foreign bodies and scars, and residuals of shell fragment wounds of the right thigh and left leg. The veteran was also denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
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