The Veteran is unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment due to service-connected disabilities, as his education and recent internship indicate he can perform sedentary work.
The deciding factor: VA examinations found the Veteran fit for sedentary employment despite knee pain and mood disorder symptoms, including intermittent suicidal ideation.
- Claimed conditions
- Left Knee Osteochondritis Dissecans, Left Knee Scar, Mood Disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- July 21, 2015
- Citation
- 1531145
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 1531145.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and mood disorders, effective from February 7, 2012. The Veteran's claim was ongoing until the RO granted service connection for PTSD in July 2020.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's left knee disability is rated at 30 percent for the total knee replacement and a 10 percent rating for the scar. The appeal was granted on both issues.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has found that new and relevant evidence has been received in relation to the claim on appeal, warranting readjudication of the issue. The Veteran's ED is claimed as secondary to his service-connected mood disorder including side effects of medications taken for his mood disorder.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has found new and relevant evidence to readjudicate the claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression/major depressive disorder, mood disorder, anxiety/generalized anxiety disorder, and adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed moods. The case is remanded for further consideration.
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