The Veteran's claims for specific phobia, acquired psychiatric disorder (to include depression and anxiety), left knee degenerative joint disease, bilateral hip condition as secondary to back disability, rating in excess of 20 percent for specific phobia, rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss, and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities are all granted. The effective date for the grant of service connection for specific phobia is set at December 27, 2015.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's claims were supported by new evidence that established a link between his service-connected conditions and the current disorders he was claiming.
- Claimed conditions
- Specific Phobia, Acquired Psychiatric Disorder (to include depression and anxiety), Left Knee Degenerative Joint Disease, Bilateral Hip Condition
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- March 23, 2023
- Citation
- 23018199
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 23018199.
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.
- 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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates are remanded due to inadequate examination.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's erectile dysfunction is rated at the maximum noncompensable level. The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for a bilateral hip condition due to insufficient evidence in the prior VA examination.
- Granted
The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was rated at 0 percent, and he is granted a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities. The Board found that the Veteran met the schedular requirements for a TDIU from July 27, 2007.
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