The Board granted service connection for right shoulder strain and left knee strain as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected left shoulder strain and right knee strain, respectively. The Board also granted an evaluation of 30 percent for right knee strain, limitation of flexion, from July 19, 2022, and a 50 percent evaluation for adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood from July 14, 2022.
The deciding factor: The Board granted service connection based on the evidence supporting that the Veteran's right shoulder strain and left knee strain were caused by overuse and overcompensation resulting from his service-connected left shoulder strain and right knee strain, respectively. The Board also granted higher evaluations for the right knee strain and adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood due to the severity of symptoms during specific periods.
- Claimed conditions
- right shoulder strain, left knee strain
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 4, 2025
- Citation
- A25049331
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.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for left knee strain, right knee strain, right wrist strain, and TBI. The Veteran's PTSD rating was remanded for further development.
- Remanded (sent back)
The appeal is remanded to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors, including the failure to obtain relevant treatment records and provide adequate VA examinations.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for a rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral hip and knee disabilities, as well as a TDIU claim, to ensure adequate VA examinations are conducted.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for left hip iliopsoas tendonitis, right knee strain, and left knee strain as secondary to lumbosacral strain. Service connection was also granted for cannabis use disorder as secondary to mental health conditions of PTSD, major depressive disorder with alcohol use disorder, and TBI. However, the Board denied an initial disability rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD and granted a separate disability rating of 40 percent for TBI.
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.