The Veteran's degenerative arthritis and lumbosacral strain are currently rated at 10 percent, which is the maximum rating available under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine. The Veteran's adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood is currently rated at 30 percent.,The Veteran seeks higher ratings for both conditions but the current evidence does not support a higher rating.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's symptoms, as described in his VA examination reports, do not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher evaluation under any applicable diagnostic code.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative Arthritis and Lumbosacral Strain, Adjustment Disorder with Mixed Anxiety and Depressed Mood
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- December 20, 2024
- Citation
- A24085389
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 A24085389.
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 Board granted an initial 70 percent disability rating for the veteran's adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood.
- Denied
The Board denied an initial disability rating in excess of 30 percent for adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability evaluation based upon individual unemployability due to his service-connected adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, as the evidence did not show that he was unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, beyond adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, due to an incomplete examination report.
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