The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, unspecified depressive disorder, unspecified anxiety disorder, MDD, and SAD, are found to be related to his service, particularly exposure to burn pits and other toxins during active duty in Iraq.
The deciding factor: Multiple VA examiners and mental health professionals have diagnosed the Veteran with various psychiatric conditions that are characterized by symptoms of anxiety and depression. The evidence supports a finding that these conditions are related to his service, including exposure to burn pits and stressful events during active duty.
- Claimed conditions
- adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, unspecified depressive disorder, unspecified anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder (MDD), social anxiety disorder (SAD)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- Burn pits / airborne hazards
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 17, 2024
- Citation
- A24084055
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 A24084055.
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 unspecified anxiety disorder alone warrants a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU), and he has additional service-connected disabilities rated at least 60 percent. The Board grants special monthly compensation (SMC) at the housebound rate.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, along with alcohol use disorder, has been granted a 100% evaluation effective from April 8, 2021. The disability causes total occupational and social impairment.
- Granted
The Veteran's anxiety and depressive disorders were rated at a 70 percent disability rating effective May 6, 2015.,Effective May 6, 2015, the Veteran was granted an earlier effective date for DEA benefits.
- Granted
The Board has restored the 10 percent disability rating for an adjustment disorder and the 20 percent disability rating for a back condition, effective June 1, 2025. The Veteran's claims of increased ratings are remanded.
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