The Veteran's anxiety disorder is service-connected, and he was granted a non-initial rating of 10 percent for his left knee osteoarthritis prior to July 15, 2015. He also received a non-initial rating of 30 percent for his status post left total knee replacement with osteoarthritis from September 1, 2016 and thereafter. The Veteran was granted TDIU.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's anxiety disorder manifested in service and continued since service, meeting the criteria for service connection under 38 U.S.C. § 1110 and 38 C.F.R. § 3.303. His left knee osteoarthritis was rated at 10 percent prior to July 15, 2015 based on limitation of motion, with no higher rating due to the absence of additional functional loss. The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted as his service-connected disabilities are of such severity that they preclude him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment.
- Claimed conditions
- anxiety disorder, major depression, sleep apnea, intervertebral disc syndrome, gastroesophageal reflux disease, paresthesia of right side mandibular nerves, paresthesia of left side mandibular nerves, right knee arthritis, status post left total knee replacement with osteoarthritis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- March 6, 2018
- Citation
- 1813651
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 1813651.
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 Board has remanded the case for additional development regarding the Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension and increased rating for anxiety disorder have been denied. The Board found that there is no evidence of a current disability meeting the criteria for hypertension, and the Veteran's anxiety disorder does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, finding that there was no evidence of a chronic disease manifesting within one year after service and concluding that the current disability is not related to his in-service deviated septum.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case for additional development regarding the Veteran's claim of service connection for sleep apnea. The Veteran will be provided with a VA examination to determine if his current sleep disorder is related to his military service.
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