The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including his panic disorder and left knee disabilities, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since October 28, 2021. However, the VA examination did not adequately assess the severity of his left knee disability during flare-ups.
The deciding factor: The February 2021 VA examination was conducted during a flare-up but failed to provide an adequate assessment of the Veteran's range of motion and functional impairment during such periods.
- Claimed conditions
- Panic Disorder, Left Knee Strain with Shin Splints
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 19, 2023
- Citation
- A23036485
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 A23036485.
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.
- Dismissed
The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, Major Depression, and Panic Disorder due to his withdrawal of these issues prior to a decision being made.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, panic disorder, major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and ADHD, finding that these conditions had onset during his military service.
- Granted
The Veteran's panic disorder, which is service-connected and not related to any exposure basis or presumption, has been granted an initial disability rating of 50 percent effective February 4, 2020. The symptoms include depression, anxiety, and disturbances in motivation and mood.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disability (Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Panic Disorder, and Persistent Depressive Disorder with Alcohol Use Disorder) prevents him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation. Additionally, he has an additional service-connected disability (Obstructive Sleep Apnea) that is independently rated at 60 percent, meeting the criteria for SMC at the housebound rate.
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