The Veteran's depression is rated as 50 percent disabling, and the Board finds that this rating is appropriate throughout the appeal period. The claim for a higher rating for his left knee disability from April 11, 1988, and the TDIU prior to July 14, 2010, are remanded as they are inextricably intertwined with the issue of depression.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's depression is rated under the General Formula for Mental Disorders (General Formula) at a 50 percent rating due to occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity. The Board finds that this rating is appropriate throughout the appeal period as it meets the criteria for a 70 percent evaluation.
- Claimed conditions
- depression, left knee disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 50%
- Decision date
- December 20, 2017
- Citation
- 1759320
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 1759320.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess his bilateral knee and hip disabilities.
- Partly granted
The Board has not made a final determination on the claims of service connection for inguinal hernia, PTSD, joint pain, fibromyalgia, left knee disability, right knee disability, tinnitus, chronic fatigue syndrome, respiratory disability, sleep disorder, IBS, and headaches. The claims are remanded to obtain additional evidence and determine if these conditions are related to service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining in-service psychiatric treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any acquired psychiatric disorder.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient rationale in the July 2012 VA examination for the Veteran's left knee disability, and a new addendum opinion is needed.
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