The Veteran's adjustment disorder with depressed and anxious mood is granted a 50 percent rating from January 15, 2014 to October 1, 2015. A 20 percent rating for the right ankle disability is granted. For the left shoulder disability, a 20 percent rating prior to March 1, 2018 and no higher than 20 percent from March 1, 2018 onwards is granted. The lumbar spine disability receives a 20 percent rating prior to November 25, 2019 and no higher than 20 percent from that date onwards. A 10 percent rating for the cervical spine disability is denied.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's symptoms most nearly approximated those associated with a 50 percent rating for her adjustment disorder with depressed and anxious mood, which caused occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity during the period on appeal.
- Claimed conditions
- Adjustment Disorder with Depressed and Anxious Mood, Right Ankle Disability, Left Shoulder Disability, Lumbar Spine Disability, Cervical Spine Disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 50%
- Decision date
- November 9, 2020
- Citation
- 20072070
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,287 · Granted: 23% (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 20072070.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The claims for service connection for right and left shoulder disabilities are remanded. The claim for sleep disorder (claimed as sleep apnea) remains denied.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for an effective date before April 1, 2018 for a 20% rating for left shoulder disability was denied. The appeal also resulted in the assignment of a 20% rating from April 1, 2018 to March 31, 2018, and a TDIU granted from April 1, 2018 to September 3, 2025.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left shoulder disabilities, finding insufficient evidence to establish an in-service event or injury related to his shoulders. The Veteran's current shoulder conditions are not linked to his military service.
- Granted
The Veteran's cervical spine disability, right knee strain (painful motion), and right knee instability are now rated at 30 percent effective August 16, 2017.
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