The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including other specified anxiety disorder, persistent depressive disorder, and alcohol use disorder, is granted as service-connected.,A 10 percent evaluation for limitation of flexion of the left elbow is granted. The current rating criteria do not support a higher evaluation based on functional impairment or pain during motion testing.,The Veteran's lumbosacral strain is remanded due to an error in obtaining evidence prior to the October 2018 rating decision.,The Veteran's left knee and right knee disabilities are both remanded for further review.
The deciding factor: Service connection was granted based on a finding that the current acquired psychiatric disability is related to service, with consideration given to the Veteran’s history of alcohol use disorder which may have contributed to his symptoms.,The evidence did not show extension limited to 75 degrees or more, as required for a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 5207. The examiner noted that pain and stiffness prevented full extension.,There was no objective evidence provided regarding the degree of pain on passive range of motion testing for lumbosacral strain prior to the October 2018 rating decision.,The Veteran's left knee and right knee disabilities were remanded due to an error in obtaining evidence prior to the October 2018 rating decision.
- Claimed conditions
- anxiety disorder, persistent depressive disorder, alcohol use disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- December 5, 2019
- Citation
- A19003367
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,062 · Granted: 34% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 A19003367.
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.
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The Veteran's service connection for other specified trauma and stressor-related disorder with persistent depressive disorder, anxious distress, and pure dysthymic syndrome was granted. The appeal for PTSD is dismissed as moot because the issue has been rendered irrelevant by the grant of service connection in another appeal stream.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, along with alcohol use disorder, has been granted a 100% evaluation effective from April 8, 2021. The disability causes total occupational and social impairment.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, major depression, generalized anxiety disorder, insomnia and alcohol use disorder caused his sleep apnea.
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