The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his knee disabilities and service connection for a psychiatric disorder. The left and right knee conditions are currently rated at 10 percent each, with no higher rating possible based on current evidence of record. Service connection for a depressive disorder with anxiety was also denied as there is no medical evidence linking the condition to military service.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner found that the veteran's left and right knee conditions did not warrant ratings higher than 10 percent, due to lack of ankylosis or instability. The psychiatric disorder was not linked to service based on the absence of a diagnosis in service records and no evidence of continuity of symptoms.
- Claimed conditions
- Patellar tendonitis, Depressive disorder with anxiety
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 31, 2002
- Citation
- 0215407
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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 0215407.
What this means for you
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What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a 70 percent initial disability rating for depressive disorder with anxiety and service connection for insomnia, while denying service connection for OSA and plantar fascitis.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remanded the Veteran's eligibility for enrollment in the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers because the initial VA decision was conclusory and based on an incorrect interpretation of regulatory requirements for 'need for supervision, protection, or instruction.' A new medical opinion must be obtained that properly applies the correct statutory criteria and addresses how the Veteran's diagnoses affect daily functioning.
- Partly granted
The Board granted an initial increased rating of 100 percent for depressive disorder with anxiety and a 50 percent rating for migraines, while denying increased ratings for rhinitis and sleep apnea. The appeal was dismissed for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and right lower extremity radiculopathy.
- Denied
The Veteran's left knee disability, including patellofemoral pain syndrome and patellar tendonitis, has been rated at 10 percent since June 6, 2022. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating as his symptoms do not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.
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