The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is denied. A disability rating of 40 percent for gout is granted. The criteria for increased ratings for thoracolumbar spondylosis of L5 with degenerative disc disease are not met prior to December 3, 2019 and subsequent to that date. Increased ratings for left knee and right knee disabilities are also denied. A separate rating of 10 percent for instability of the right knee is granted. The Veteran's claim for a total rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) effective October 1, 2020 is granted.
The deciding factor: The evidence does not establish a current disability of an acquired psychiatric disorder during the pendency of the appeal or prior to the Veteran's filing of a claim. The VA psychiatrist found no evidence of PTSD in the Veteran's medical records and determined that his symptoms did not meet the diagnostic criteria for a mental disorder, to include PTSD, under DSM-5 criteria.
- Claimed conditions
- Acquired Psychiatric Disorder (to include PTSD), Gout, Thoracolumbar Spondylosis of L5 with Degenerative Disc Disease, Left Knee Disability, Right Knee Disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- May 12, 2021
- Citation
- 21028955
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 21028955.
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: Denied
The Veteran's service-connected knee disabilities are rated at 10% each, and the Board finds that higher ratings are not warranted based on the evidence of record.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities are not related to his active service, and thus denied both claims for service connection.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a right knee disability, finding that there is no evidence to support an etiological relationship between his current condition and his military service.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's left knee disability is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board finds no evidence of clear and unmistakable error in assigning an effective date of June 19, 2002.
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