The Board has granted service connection for unspecified depressive disorder and granted increased ratings of 20 percent each for right knee arthritis and left knee arthritis, as well as initial 10 percent ratings for right and left knee instability. The Veteran's appeal was reopened on new evidence.
The deciding factor: The Veteran provided credible testimony regarding her in-service incident and current mental health issues, which led to the Board finding that service connection is warranted for unspecified depressive disorder. For the increased rating claims, the Board considered the Veteran's symptoms and medical evidence, including VA examination reports, and determined that a 20 percent rating was appropriate based on the severity of her knee disabilities.
- Claimed conditions
- unspecified depressive disorder, right knee arthritis, left knee arthritis, right knee instability, left knee instability
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- July 12, 2021
- Citation
- 21042191
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 21042191.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeals were dismissed due to the death of the appellant. The issues related to service connection for various conditions and disability ratings.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeals for increased disability ratings and service connection were dismissed. The Board found that the Veteran withdrew his appeal as to the issues of entitlement to increased disability ratings for left foot metatarsalgia, tinnitus, left wrist disability, right foot plantar warts, and for service connection for right foot plantar warts at a September 2024 hearing. Service connection was granted for migraines.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment, leading to a TDIU rating.
- Granted
The Veteran's anxiety and depressive disorders were rated at a 70 percent disability rating effective May 6, 2015.,Effective May 6, 2015, the Veteran was granted an earlier effective date for DEA benefits.
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