The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including trauma/stressor-related disorder and major depressive disorder, are granted as service-connected. From October 15, 2014, the Veteran is granted a 20 percent rating for his meniscal tear and degenerative joint disease of the right knee. The Veteran is also granted a 20 percent rating from October 15, 2014 to February 13, 2023, for limitation of extension of the right knee. A rating greater than 20 percent for limitation of extension of the right knee is denied starting February 14, 2023. The Veteran's limitation of flexion of the right hip is granted a 10 percent rating from October 15, 2014.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the Veteran's symptoms were more closely aligned with Diagnostic Code 5258 for meniscal tear and degeneration, which allows for a higher rating based on frequent episodes of pain and effusion into the joint. The limitation of extension was rated under Diagnostic Code 5261.
- Claimed conditions
- Acquired psychiatric disorder, to include trauma/stressor-related disorder and major depressive disorder, Meniscal tear and degenerative joint disease of the right knee, Trochanteric bursitis of the right hip
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- September 9, 2023
- Citation
- 23049954
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 23049954.
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 for increased ratings for his right knee disability and hip disabilities have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal before the Board.
- Denied
The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied as his conditions did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.
- Granted
The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 30 percent from November 1, 2004 until January 31, 2007 and increased to 50 percent thereafter. The bilateral hip disorders were each rated at 10 percent. The Veteran's lumbar spine condition was initially rated at 10 percent and later increased to 20 percent.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar myositis, psychoneurosis and conversion hysteria, residuals of shrapnel wounds of the left thigh and pelvis with retained foreign bodies and scars, and residuals of shell fragment wounds of the right thigh and left leg. The veteran was also denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
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