The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and initial rating determinations were denied. The claim for an increased rating for right knee strain with patellofemoral pain syndrome was denied as the evidence did not support a higher rating than 10 percent. The claim for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent prior to May 4, 2015, and in excess of 70 percent thereafter for major depressive disorder (residuals of traumatic brain injury) was also denied as the evidence did not support a higher rating than 30 percent.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's symptoms were characterized by painful limitation of flexion with no functional impairment from September 28, 2015, to September 27, 2021, and limited to 45 degrees during flare-ups thereafter. These symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.
- Claimed conditions
- Right Knee Strain with Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome, Major Depressive Disorder (Residuals of Traumatic Brain Injury)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 30, 2022
- Citation
- 22055704
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 22055704.
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 initial and subsequent ratings for right and left knee disabilities prior to and since January 29, 2019 were denied as the medical evidence did not support a higher rating under either pre-amended or amended VA criteria.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as his pure tone thresholds did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left and right knee disabilities were remanded due to insufficient examination findings regarding flare-ups.
- Remanded (sent back)
An effective date of November 21, 2016, but not earlier, for the award of a 20 percent rating for right knee strain with patellofemoral pain syndrome is granted.,A compensable rating for a surgical scar on the right knee is denied. The issue of entitlement to service connection for a right lower extremity neurological disorder is remanded.
- Granted
The Board has granted a 10 percent evaluation for each of the veteran's service-connected right and left knee disabilities, based on their functional limitations due to pain.
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