The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for the Veteran's service-connected adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, and an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative arthritis of the right ankle.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not show occupational or social impairment equivalent to what would be caused by symptoms contemplated for a rating in excess of 50 percent for the acquired psychiatric disability, nor did it meet the criteria for a higher rating for the right ankle disability due to limited motion.
- Claimed conditions
- Adjustment Disorder with Mixed Anxiety and Depressed Mood (Acquired Psychiatric Disability), Degenerative Arthritis of the Right Ankle
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- March 31, 2025
- Citation
- A25029535
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,050 · Granted: 32% (granted or partly granted, in the indexed 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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation A25029535.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran was unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities from November 17, 2015. The appeal is granted.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for specially adapted housing and restored his disability ratings for left knee instability and right knee instability. The decision is based on the Veteran's service-connected disabilities that preclude locomotion due to multiple orthopedic and neurological conditions.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's service-connected conditions render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, warranting a TDIU.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
Service connection for a positive tuberculin skin test was granted. The Veteran's current arthritis of the right and left knees is rated at 10 percent each, with no higher evaluation warranted based on flexion limitation or other criteria. The Veteran's arthritis of the right ankle has been increased to 20 percent since August 14, 2008.,The Veteran's service connection for a positive tuberculin skin test was granted.
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