The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, and for increased ratings for left knee patella femoral syndrome and chronic left ankle sprain have been denied. The Veteran was found not to meet the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD or social phobia at any time during the period on appeal.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence does not support current diagnoses of PTSD or social phobia, and the VA examiners did not find these conditions in their evaluations.
- Claimed conditions
- Acquired psychiatric disorder (including unspecified anxiety disorder and PTSD), Left knee patella femoral syndrome, Chronic left ankle sprain
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- February 25, 2020
- Citation
- 20014257
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 20014257.
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 left ankle disability is rated at a 20 percent rating for marked limitation of motion, the maximum schedular rating available.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent prior to August 11, 2020. The Board granted a TDIU effective January 19, 2013.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted the Veteran's request to withdraw his claim for a higher rating for left knee revision total knee arthroplasty. The Veteran was also granted entitlement to TDIU due to the combined effect of multiple service-connected disabilities preventing him from maintaining gainful employment.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the cases for further examination and adjudication due to inadequate reasons and bases in the previous decisions. The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine and left ankle disabilities are being examined again, and his entitlement to TDIU is also being addressed.
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