The Board has granted service connection for right ankle tendonitis and arthritis, as well as lumbar spine degenerative arthritis and intervertebral disc syndrome, both secondary to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral knee disorders. The acquired psychiatric disorder is not found to be related to his service or any service-connected disability.
The deciding factor: The VA medical opinion provided in August 2015 determined that the Veteran's current psychiatric disorder was aggravated by his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities, which caused him significant pain and functional impairment.
- Claimed conditions
- Acquired Psychiatric Disorder, Right Chondromalacia of the Patella (Bilateral), Loss of Medial Meniscus Height with Buckling of Posterior Cruciate Ligament of the Left Knee, Surgical Scar of the Right Knee, Right Knee Instability, GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease), Status Post Ventral Incisional Hernia with Bard Perfix Plug Repair with Scarring, Hemorrhoids, Right Ankle Tendonitis and Arthritis, Lumbar Spine Degenerative Arthritis and Intervertebral Disc Syndrome
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 20, 2017
- Citation
- 1728404
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 1728404.
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 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.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected knee disabilities have been rated and denied for increased ratings, with some conditions receiving specific disability ratings. The Veteran is granted a 60% rating for her total right knee replacement from September 4, 2015 onwards, but the other claims are denied.
- Denied
The claims for PTSD, an acquired psychiatric disorder, memory loss/memory problems, chronic fatigue, sleep difficulties/sleep disturbances, and sleep apnea have been denied. The claim for service connection for residuals of testicular denervation and varicosectomy has been granted.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew his appeal for an increased evaluation of his hemorrhoids, so the case is dismissed.
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