The appeal from the October 14, 2022, rating decision for entitlement to a compensable evaluation for right knee surgical scars is dismissed. Service connection for cervical strain is granted, while other claims are denied or remanded.
The deciding factor: The evidence supports service connection for cervical strain and grants a 20 percent rating for the right knee surgical scars due to pain, but denies service connection for PTSD and other conditions based on lack of credible supporting evidence or insufficient symptomatology.
- Claimed conditions
- cervical strain, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), allergic rhinitis, major depressive disorder with anxious distress, right knee surgical scars, tinnitus, trigeminal neuralgia, right knee status post anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear and meniscus repair with dislocated cartilage, right knee osteochondral defect, lateral tibial plateau, with limitation of extension, right knee strain with limitation of flexion, left knee strain with limitation of flexion, left shoulder strain with rotator cuff tendonitis, bilateral shin splints (MTSS), right shoulder strain with rotator cuff tendonitis, labral tear, and glenohumeral joint instability, thoracolumbar strain, right ankle strain
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- March 14, 2025
- Citation
- A25024097
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.
- Denied
The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's lumbar spine pain, allergic rhinitis, and recurrent yeast infections. The claims for service connection for generalized anxiety disorder with alcohol use disorder and left knee pain were remanded.
- Partly granted
The Veteran was granted a 70 percent initial disability rating for PTSD effective December 2, 2021, but the claim for an increased rating in excess of 70 percent was denied. The appeal also included claims for service connection and ratings for various conditions, some of which were granted while others were remanded.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for tinnitus to correct a duty to assist error, as the Veteran's lay statements regarding onset and continuity of symptoms were not adequately considered in the previous decision.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew the appeals for service connection for bilateral pes planus, obstructive sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
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