The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The right knee condition, migraine headaches, and pain disorder with depression or persistent somatic symptom disorder are currently rated at the maximum available levels.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not meet the criteria for higher ratings based on the severity of symptoms and functional impairment.
- Claimed conditions
- Right knee degenerative joint disease, Migraine headaches with vertigo, Pain disorder with depression or persistent somatic symptom disorder with predominant pain and persistent depressive disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- December 20, 2019
- Citation
- 19195716
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,614 · Granted: 35% (granted or partly granted, in the indexed 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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 19195716.
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 Veteran's right knee disability is granted as service connected, effective August 19, 2009. The Veteran's MDD is rated at 70 percent and his TDIU due to MDD is also granted.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's right knee disability is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds that a remand is necessary to determine if it warrants a higher evaluation. Additionally, the TDIU claim is inextricably intertwined with the increased rating claim for right knee disability.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has found that the Veteran is in need of personal care services for a minimum of six continuous months due to an inability to perform one or more activities of daily living (ADLs). The PCAFC eligibility process will continue, including consideration of whether the program is in the Veteran's best interest.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The Board granted increased ratings for intervertebral disc syndrome, left and right ankle disabilities but remanded the claims for other joint conditions due to insufficient evidence.
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