The Board granted service connection for somatic symptom disorder as secondary to the service-connected knee disabilities and increased ratings of 20 percent for left and right knee chondromalacia, but did not grant a higher rating. The case was remanded for further action on the claim for service connection for a left ankle disorder.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the Veteran's somatic symptom disorder is caused by his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities and that the limitation of flexion in both knees most closely approximates the criteria for 20 percent ratings, but not higher.
- Claimed conditions
- somatic symptom disorder, left knee chondromalacia, right knee chondromalacia
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- June 6, 2025
- Citation
- A25050171
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,199 · Granted: 25% (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 A25050171.
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.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeals for earlier effective dates and compensable ratings for left knee tendonitis and right knee chondromalacia have been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal in January 2025.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for left foot plantar fasciitis and remanded the claims of anxiety disorder, persistent depressive disorder, and somatic symptom disorder.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss and has remanded the claims for hypertension, left knee disability, and right knee disability due to duty to assist errors.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for somatic symptom disorder and migraines, both found to be secondary to the Veteran's service-connected tinnitus.
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