The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for the Veteran's psychiatric disability, finding that the symptoms more closely approximate those associated with a 50 percent rating.
The deciding factor: The severity, frequency, and duration of the Veteran's unlisted symptoms were found to be less severe than those required for a higher rating.
- Claimed conditions
- Adjustment Disorder with Mixed Anxiety and Depressed Mood, Alcohol Use Disorder in early remission, Cannabis Use Disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- January 31, 2025
- Citation
- A25009189
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 284 · Granted: 35% (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 A25009189.
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 Veteran's appeal for an increased rating of 70 percent for service-connected Adjustment Disorder with Mixed Anxiety and Depressed Mood is granted. The remaining issues are remanded for further evaluation.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate opinions in the current file, and thus the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability will be reconsidered with new evidence.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's PTSD has been granted a 70% rating effective March 25, 2024. The Board found that the increase in severity of his disability warranted this rating.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical evidence regarding the Veteran's PTSD and bipolar disorder, as well as a failure to provide an adequate VA examination prior to the rating decision.
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