The Veteran's increased rating for a psychiatric disability is denied, and his service connection claims are remanded. The Board acknowledges new evidence received to reopen the claims for bilateral hearing loss, chronic fatigue syndrome, headaches, unspecified ear condition, right knee condition, left knee condition, lower back pain, left shoulder condition, and upper back conditions.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's psychiatric symptoms have been adequately represented by his current 50 percent rating. The evidence does not support findings of difficulty adapting to stressful circumstances or the inability to establish effective relationships.
- Claimed conditions
- 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
- February 6, 2026
- Citation
- A26011429
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. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation A26011429.
What this means for you
A partial grant means some issues were granted while others were denied or remanded — common in multi-issue claims. Look at which issues went which way, and how each was argued.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- 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.
- 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.
- Granted
The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, finding that his current condition is related to events during his military service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that a remand is needed to correct a pre-decisional duty to assist error, and the Veteran should be afforded a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any acquired psychiatric disorders.
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