The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluations for various disabilities, including PTSD, knee conditions, elbow degenerative joint disease, cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, wrist condition/carpal tunnel syndrome, and left elbow disability. The decision also grants service connection for a bilateral arm disability (claimed as bilateral shoulder disability).
The deciding factor: The evidence is in equipoise regarding the Veteran's claims of service connection for PTSD, knee conditions, elbow degenerative joint disease, cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, wrist condition/carpal tunnel syndrome, and left elbow disability. The Board finds that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim for a bilateral arm disability (claimed as bilateral shoulder disability).
- Claimed conditions
- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Left Knee Chondromalacia with Degenerative Changes, Right Knee Chondromalacia with Degenerative Changes, Right Ankle Brostrom Procedure with Residual Pain, Right Elbow Degenerative Joint Disease, Degenerative Disc Disease for the Cervical Spine, Degenerative Disc Disease of the Lumbar Spine, Bilateral Wrist Condition/Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia, Left Elbow Disability, Bilateral Arm Disability (claimed as bilateral Shoulder Disability)
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 13, 2012
- Citation
- 1213593
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 1213593.
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.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.