The Board granted service connection for disability manifested by bilateral knee pain, as due to an undiagnosed illness, and granted ratings of 40 percent and 20 percent for chronic muscular strain of the lumbar spine and cervical spine, respectively. The claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD with major depressive disorder was denied, but SMC was granted.
The deciding factor: The evidence is approximately evenly balanced as to whether the Veteran's chronic muscular strain of the lumbar spine and cervical spine have been manifested by certain symptoms during flare-ups and with repeated use over time. The criteria for service connection for disability manifested by bilateral knee pain, as due to an undiagnosed illness, were met on a presumptive basis.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral knee pain
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 14, 2025
- Citation
- 25006504
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,604 · Granted: 65% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 25006504.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for service connection for left foot hammer toe and bilateral knees are remanded due to the need for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions, as well as their relationship to his military service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for higher ratings and service connection are being remanded due to scheduling conflicts preventing VA examinations, and the claim for a higher rating based on multiple noncompensable disabilities is inextricably intertwined with other pending claims.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for service connection for various knee and leg conditions is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination. The Veteran seeks service connection for adjustment disorder, left knee meniscus tear post-surgery, bilateral lower extremity instability, internal derangement of the left knee, bilateral knee pain, and decreased flexibility of legs.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the AOJ failing to obtain relevant private treatment records from Dr. K.
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