The Board denied service connection for a psychiatric disorder, finding that the Veteran's ADHD preexisted his military service and was not aggravated therein. The current adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood is related to the preexisting ADHD.
The deciding factor: The evidence does not show an increase in the severity of the noted preexisting disability during service, and the Board finds no clear and unmistakable evidence that the Veteran's psychiatric condition worsened beyond its natural progression.
- Claimed conditions
- ADHD, Adjustment Disorder with Mixed Anxiety and Depressed Mood
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 16, 2025
- Citation
- A25052693
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.
- Dismissed
The Board dismissed the claims for service connection for ADHD and spondylolisthesis, cervical spinal stenosis, and neck strain as they were not ripe for review. The remaining claims are remanded for further development.
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