The Board granted service connection for degenerative changes of the cervical spine, spondylotic changes of the lumbar spine, left knee strain and left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, but denied service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and an effective date prior to February 5, 2018 for unspecified schizophrenia and other psychotic disorder.
The deciding factor: The evidence was at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's cervical spine degenerative changes, lumbar spine spondylotic changes, left knee strain, and right knee strain were related to his active service. However, there was no evidence of a current diagnosis of PTSD, and an effective date prior to February 5, 2018 for unspecified schizophrenia and other psychotic disorder was denied.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative changes of the cervical spine, Spondylotic changes of the lumbar spine, Left knee strain and left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, Right knee strain
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 5, 2022
- Citation
- 22000598
What this means for you
A partial grant means some issues were granted while others were denied or remanded — common in multi-issue claims. Look at which issues went which way, and how each was argued.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for a cervical spine disability as there was no evidence of an in-service injury or disease related to active duty, ADT, or IDT.
- Partly granted
The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, while remanding claims for depression, anxiety, sleep disorder, right knee strain, left knee strain, and lumbar spine strain.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, bilateral tinnitus, facial numbness (Bell's palsy), gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and right knee strain. The claims for a left knee strain, major depressive disorder with anxious distress, cervical neck strain, lumbosacral strain, and bilateral foot disability were remanded.
- Denied
The appeal for an increased rating for left hip, the claims for entitlement to an earlier effective date and an increased rating for right knee strain, and the appeal for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for left shoulder strain were dismissed. The claim for a 40 percent rating from June 24, 2021 for degenerative disc disease was granted.
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