The Veteran's service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is granted. The Board also grants a separate disability rating of 10 percent, but no higher, for limitation of extension of the left knee and a separate disability rating of 20 percent, but no higher, for left knee instability.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's current acquired psychiatric disorder was aggravated by his service-connected lumbar spine and left knee disabilities. The Board found that the Veteran has a current psychiatric disability as well as a currently service-connected lumbar spine and left knee disabilities. Dr. Gray provided an opinion associating the Veteran's current mental health condition to chronic pain associated with his service-connected musculoskeletal disabilities.
- Claimed conditions
- Acquired psychiatric disorder, Left knee disability (limitation of flexion), Left knee instability, Left lower extremity radiculopathy affecting the sciatic nerve
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- July 25, 2024
- Citation
- A24041053
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 A24041053.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability and an increased rating for his acquired psychiatric disorder. The Board found that there was no evidence linking the current disabilities to military service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case for a determination on whether injuries sustained in a November 2001 incident were in the line of duty. The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is also remanded due to its interdependence with the line of duty issue.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to a duty to assist error in failing to obtain private treatment records from the Veteran's treating clinician.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of August 13, 2018, for the award of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is granted. The Veteran also meets the schedular criteria for entitlement to TDIU prior to June 1, 2023.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.