The Board denied the veteran's claims for an earlier effective date and a higher initial rating for adjustment disorder, as well as TDIU and a higher initial rating for a left shoulder disability.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not show that the Veteran continuously pursued his claim of service connection for adjustment disorder or that new and relevant evidence had been received to warrant an earlier effective date. The severity of the Veteran's symptoms did not more closely approximate occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, as required for a higher rating.
- Claimed conditions
- adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 8, 2025
- Citation
- A25042064
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.
- Partly granted
The Board granted earlier effective dates for TDIU and DEA, but denied increased ratings for various service-connected conditions.
- Denied
The Board denied an earlier effective date and a higher initial rating for the service-connected adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, finding that the earliest possible effective date had been assigned.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right and left knee, ankle, and leg disabilities.
- Partly granted
The Board granted restoration of a 50% disability rating for the Veteran's service-connected adjustment disorder, denied an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD, and granted TDIU from May 20, 2023.
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