The Veteran's other unspecified trauma and stressor related disorder with major depressive disorder and unspecified anxiety disorder was granted a 70 percent disability rating, but no higher. The lumbosacral strain was denied a higher disability rating.

The deciding factor: The Veteran's symptoms of the mental health condition included suicidal ideation and difficulty in adapting to stressful circumstances, which warranted a 70 percent rating under Diagnostic Code 9423. However, the evidence did not support a higher or lower rating for the lumbosacral strain.

Claimed conditions

Other unspecified trauma and stressor related disorder with major depressive disorder and unspecified anxiety disorder, Lumbosacral strain

How they argued it

Direct service connection

Exposure basis

None

Rating assigned

70%

Decision date

February 25, 2025

Citation

A25016737

Want to see how appeals like this one tend to go? Appeals like mine