The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability is found to be the proximate cause of his diagnosed acute adjustment disorder with depressed mood. Service connection for diabetic peripheral neuropathy in both upper extremities is denied due to lack of current evidence.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner opined that the Veteran's depression was at least as likely as not caused by his service-connected lumbar spine disability, supported by medical literature linking low back pain and depression.
- Claimed conditions
- Acute Adjustment Disorder with Depressed Mood, Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy Left Upper Extremity (LUE), Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy Right Upper Extremity (RUE)
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- November 22, 2023
- Citation
- 23062358
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 23062358.
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 service-connected acute adjustment disorder with depressed mood is rated at 50 percent, effective from August 14, 2025. The Board found the symptoms consistent with a 50 percent rating due to occupational and social impairment.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities is remanded due to the receipt of additional VA treatment records.
- Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's headaches are at least as likely as not caused by his service-connected traumatic brain injury, and thus grants service connection for this condition.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hypertension and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.
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