The Veteran's left knee disability is currently rated at 10 percent for degenerative joint disease and a separate 10 percent rating for instability. The appeal for an increased rating remains pending.,Service connection for the low back condition and acquired psychiatric disorder (including depression and insomnia) is remanded due to incomplete information regarding service connection criteria.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression and insomnia, may be related to Gulf War service.
The deciding factor: The preponderance of evidence does not support a higher rating for left knee degenerative joint disease. The Veteran’s flexion is limited to no less than 110 degrees, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,Further clarification is needed regarding whether the Veteran's low back condition and acquired psychiatric disorder are related to service. Service connection may be established based on Gulf War service.,The VA examiner’s opinion did not adequately address the issue of aggravation or provide sufficient rationale.
- Claimed conditions
- Acquired Psychiatric Disorder (including Depression and Insomnia), Left Knee Degenerative Joint Disease, Low Back Condition
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 7, 2020
- Citation
- 20065230
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,861 · Granted: 27% (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 20065230.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's left knee disability is rated at 40 percent for limitation of extension, effective December 18, 2025. The Veteran also received separate ratings for instability and dislocation of semilunar cartilage.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim of service connection for GERD has been readjudicated due to the submission of relevant new evidence.,The Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral eye condition, headaches, low back condition, lung cancer, and Parkinson's disease with tremors have also been readjudicated due to the submission of relevant new evidence.
- Dismissed
The Board has dismissed the appeal for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss. Service connection is granted for TMJ disorder and low back condition, but service connection for dental injury top left rear teeth remains remanded.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeals for higher ratings on several service-connected conditions have been remanded by the Board of Veterans' Appeals. The initial rating for PTSD remains at 50 percent, and the initial rating for right ulnar nerve neuropathy remains at 10 percent. The low back condition, right thigh impairment, and right hip strain are all being remanded for further review.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.