The Veteran's bilateral knee arthritis was diagnosed within one year of separation from service and manifested to a degree of at least 10 percent during that time.,The weight of the competent evidence of record demonstrates that the Veteran has been diagnosed with a psychiatric disability under the DSM-IV criteria due to an in-service stressor.
The deciding factor: Service connection was established for bilateral knee arthritis and PTSD based on diagnoses, in-service stressors, and medical opinions.
- Claimed conditions
- Bilateral Knee Arthritis, Psychiatric Disability (PTSD)
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- January 23, 2015
- Citation
- 1503446
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 1503446.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an effective date before May 15, 2015, for service connection of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) due to insufficient evidence linking OSA to his bilateral knee condition.
- Partly granted
The Board denied service connection for insomnia, right ear hearing loss, and a neck disability. The claims for PTSD and left ear hearing loss were also denied. However, the claims for left knee, right knee, and back disabilities were remanded.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has found that new examinations are needed for the Veteran's right thumb disability, left leg lymphedema, and bilateral knee arthritis due to incomplete information in previous VA examinations. The TDIU claim is also remanded as it could significantly impact these issues.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), have rendered him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.
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