The Board granted an initial rating of 70 percent for adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, but denied a higher evaluation for lumbosacral strain.

The deciding factor: The Veteran's symptoms more closely approximated the criteria for a 70 percent rating under the general rating formula for mental disorders, while her back condition did not meet the criteria for a rating higher than 20 percent.

Claimed conditions

lumbosacral strain (claimed as low back), adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood (claimed as depression, anxiety, panic disorder)

How they argued it

Direct service connection

Exposure basis

None

Rating assigned

70%

Decision date

October 7, 2025

Citation

A25086875

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