BVA decisions by condition
Adjustment disorder: BVA grant rates and what wins
From 2017 to 2026, the Board of Veterans' Appeals decided a adjustment disorder issue in 5,030 decisions. It granted the adjustment disorder issue in 23.3% of them, above the 19.4% grant rate for all conditions, denied it in 27.3%, and remanded it in 47.3%. Counting only decisions on the merits (granted or denied), 46.0% were granted.
Decisions
5,030
2017–2026
Granted
23.3%
All conditions: 19.4%
Granted on the merits
46.0%
Granted ÷ (granted + denied)
Remanded
47.3%
Denied: 27.3%
Adjustment disorder outcomes by year
| Year | Decisions | Granted | Denied | Remanded |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 149 | 10.7% | 30.2% | 51.0% |
| 2018 | 329 | 19.5% | 28.0% | 48.6% |
| 2019 | 529 | 19.7% | 25.5% | 54.4% |
| 2020 | 552 | 18.7% | 32.6% | 48.4% |
| 2021 | 474 | 19.8% | 24.9% | 52.3% |
| 2022 | 522 | 19.9% | 22.0% | 56.5% |
| 2023 | 645 | 21.9% | 25.3% | 51.0% |
| 2024 | 679 | 27.2% | 26.1% | 44.0% |
| 2025 | 836 | 29.9% | 30.1% | 37.6% |
| 2026 | 315 | 35.2% | 31.1% | 32.4% |
Evidence in granted and denied adjustment disorder decisions
For each kind of supporting evidence: how often the Board granted the adjustment disorder issue on the merits when the decision mentioned it, compared with decisions that did not. These are associations, not causes, and evidence is recorded per decision, not per issue.
| In the record | Decisions | Granted when present | When absent | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Positive nexus opinion | 873 | 79.0% | 35.8% | +43.2 pts |
| Favorable VA exam | 647 | 76.0% | 38.8% | +37.2 pts |
| Claimed as secondary | 1,089 | 65.2% | 41.9% | +23.3 pts |
| Buddy statement | 143 | 63.4% | 45.5% | +17.9 pts |
| Private medical opinion | 1,611 | 56.4% | 39.7% | +16.7 pts |
| Combat service | 331 | 58.6% | 45.0% | +13.6 pts |
| Treating physician opinion | 278 | 56.2% | 45.2% | +11.0 pts |
| Lay statement | 4,099 | 44.6% | 56.0% | −11.4 pts |
- The Board applied the benefit-of-the-doubt rule (38 CFR 3.102) in 69.8% of the decisions that granted adjustment disorder.
- The Board found the veteran's statements credible in 33.1% of grants and 10.5% of denials.
Negative evidence in the record
An unfavorable exam or a negative nexus opinion often sits in the same record as favorable evidence, and the Board weighs them against each other. So these rows show how often adjustment disorder was still granted when the record contained the negative item, not that the item helped.
| In the record | Decisions | Granted when present | When absent | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Negative nexus opinion | 2,239 | 43.1% | 48.4% | −5.3 pts |
| Unfavorable VA exam | 3,745 | 44.0% | 55.9% | −11.9 pts |
Why the Board granted or denied adjustment disorder
Most common reasons in grants
- Current diagnosis established120
- Caused by the service-connected disability82
- Service connection established27
- Symptoms approximated 70% rating criteria13
- Occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity13
- Occupational and social impairment noted11
- Symptoms approximated 50% rating criteria10
- Criteria for service connection met9
Most common reasons in denials
- Preponderance of the evidence against the claim125
- VA examiner: less likely than not related to service75
- No current diagnosis68
- Service records negative or silent64
- No in-service complaints, treatment or diagnosis60
- Current diagnosis established24
- Symptoms did not meet criteria for higher rating21
- Symptoms did not meet criteria for 70% rating18
Numbers are decisions that gave the reason. Reasons are short phrases extracted by AI from each decision; common wordings of the same reason are grouped. Benefit of the doubt is reported above.
Recent adjustment disorder decisions
Granted
Reduction void ab initio due to failure to address improvement in ability to function under ordinary conditions of life and work.; March 2024 VA examination inadequate; examiner did not address relevant VA treatment records showing ongoing mental health symptoms.; Remanded for new examination to determine severity and symptoms.
Holistic analysis of listed and unlisted symptoms; Symptoms approximated 70% rating criteria; No symptoms met 100% rating criteria
Private psychological evaluation found 70% impairment; Niece's statement corroborates functional impairment and social isolation; Symptoms include suicidal ideation, depression, sleep disturbance, impaired concentration, social withdrawal
Denied
Veteran's post-service occupational history indicates minimal impairment.; VA examiner found symptoms not severe enough to interfere with occupational/social functioning or require continuous medication.; Board found VA examiner competent and credible.
Lack of in-service treatment records for mental health issues.; Significant gap between service and seeking treatment for childhood issues.; VA examiner opined less likely than not related to service.
No new and relevant evidence submitted after prior final denial.; Lay assertions are not probative evidence for DSM-5 diagnosis.; No competent medical evidence of acquired psychiatric disorder diagnosis.
Rules that apply to adjustment disorder claims
- 38 CFR 3.303
Principles of service connection
Read it in VA Law Explorer - 38 CFR 3.310
Secondary service connection and aggravation
Read it in VA Law Explorer - 38 CFR 3.102
Reasonable doubt (benefit of the doubt)
Read it in VA Law Explorer
Research your adjustment disorder case
Narrow by year, judge, evidence or secondary condition, read the decisions, and export a research memo.
How these numbers are calculated
- Rates count decisions in which the Board decided a adjustment disorder issue, by the outcome of that issue. Other issues in the same decision can have different outcomes.
- “Granted on the merits” leaves out remands and dismissals. “All conditions” is the grant share across every condition issue in the data.
- The data comes from CaseScribe's AI extraction of public BVA decisions (2017–2026) and can contain errors. It is updated automatically as new decisions are added.