The Board granted service connection for right and left knee instability before June 12, 2023, and an evaluation of 40 percent for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine. The claim for a higher rating for posttraumatic stress disorder with major depressive disorder was denied.
The deciding factor: The Board granted service connection based on competent lay evidence from the Veteran and found that his instability was due to his service-connected knee disabilities. For the psychiatric disability, the evidence did not support a 100 percent evaluation as it showed only moderate impairment in social and occupational functioning.
- Claimed conditions
- right knee instability, left knee instability, degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine (lumbar spine disability), psychiatric disability (posttraumatic stress disorder with major depressive disorder), right ankle condition
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 11, 2025
- Citation
- A25021965
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