The Veteran does not have PTSD. The Board found that the Veteran did not manifest a current PTSD disability.,The Veteran has degenerative joint disease of both knees, which were incurred during his military service.,The Veteran also has rheumatoid arthritis, which was incurred during his military service.,The Veteran's sleep disorder is secondary to his service-connected rheumatoid arthritis and degenerative arthritis of the knees.
The deciding factor: There is no evidence of PTSD in the Veteran's service records or post-service medical records. The VA examiner found that the Veteran did not manifest any acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD.,The Veteran has a history of knee problems dating back to his military service and these conditions were seen as being related to his active duty.,The Veteran also had rheumatoid arthritis which was diagnosed in 1984. The VA examiner opined that the Veteran's current rheumatoid arthritis is likely due to his service, given his history of knee problems during service.,The Veteran has a sleep disorder secondary to his service-connected rheumatoid arthritis and degenerative arthritis of the knees.
- Claimed conditions
- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Degenerative Joint Disease of the Right Knee, Degenerative Joint Disease of the Left Knee, Rheumatoid Arthritis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 16, 2010
- Citation
- 1026713
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 1026713.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted as the evidence shows a current diagnosis of PTSD, an in-service stressor, and a medical link between the two.
- Denied
The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50% since March 23, 2004. The Board found that a higher rating is not warranted prior to February 15, 2005 due to the severity of his symptoms and their impact on his social and occupational functioning.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and any acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between his current mental health conditions and his military service.
- Granted
The Veteran's PTSD resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 70% disability rating. The Veteran also met the criteria for a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.
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