The Board has denied a higher rating for the Veteran's right knee meniscal tear and remanded his claim of service connection for a personality disorder, finding that secondary service connection is not possible due to the nature of these conditions.
The deciding factor: Secondary service connection is prohibited for personality disorders as they are considered congenital defects. Service connection can only be granted if a superimposed mental disorder results from service-connected disabilities.
- Claimed conditions
- Meniscal tear of the right knee, Personality disorder (previously claimed as depression)
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 9, 2020
- Citation
- 20045816
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 20045816.
What this means for you
A remand is not a loss. The Board sent the case back for more development — often a new exam or missing records — before making a final decision. Many remands later end in a grant, and the decision spells out exactly what the Board wanted to see.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Veteran's right knee disability, characterized by painful motion and degenerative arthritis with frequent episodes of 'locking' and pain, was rated at 20 percent prior to September 19, 2020. As of that date, the disability has been rated at 20 percent due to limitation of extension between 10 to 14 degrees.
- Granted
The Veteran's right knee disability was rated at 60 percent from March 19, 2018 to March 18, 2019 for total knee replacement. Prior to this period, he received separate ratings for degenerative joint disease and meniscal tear.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that further development is necessary to determine if the Veteran's right knee and low back disorders are secondary or aggravated by his service-connected left knee disorder. The case will be remanded for additional clarification from Dr. M.N.D.
- Granted
The Veteran's right knee was rated at 20 percent for meniscal tear, effective from January 26, 2008. The left knee remains rated at 10 percent.
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