The Veteran's low back disorder is service-connected and he has been granted a higher rating.,For his left knee disability, the Veteran was granted an increased rating to 70 percent effective from May 4, 2010. He also received separate ratings for limitation of extension (30%) and slight instability (10%).,The Veteran's right knee disability has been rated at 30 percent since July 23, 2009, with a separate rating for limitation of extension (30% effective from July 23, 2009 to July 20, 2012) and slight instability (10%).,The Veteran's PTSD has been granted an initial disability rating of 70 percent since May 4, 2010. He also received a separate rating for limitation of extension (30% effective from July 23, 2009 to July 20, 2012) and slight instability (10%).,The Veteran has been granted TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's low back disorder is service-connected and he received a higher rating. For his left knee disability, the Veteran was granted an increased rating to 70 percent effective from May 4, 2010. He also received separate ratings for limitation of extension (30%) and slight instability (10%). The Veteran's right knee disability has been rated at 30 percent since July 23, 2009, with a separate rating for limitation of extension (30% effective from July 23, 2009 to July 20, 2012) and slight instability (10%). The Veteran's PTSD has been granted an initial disability rating of 70 percent since May 4, 2010. He also received a separate rating for limitation of extension (30% effective from July 23, 2009 to July 20, 2012) and slight instability (10%). The Veteran has been granted TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.
- Claimed conditions
- Low Back Disorder, Left Knee Patellofemoral Syndrome with Degenerative Joint Disease, Right Knee Patellofemoral Syndrome, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 70%
- Decision date
- May 1, 2015
- Citation
- 1518748
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 1518748.
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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