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
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 service connection for somatic symptom disorder, respiratory disorders (including COPD), nephrolithiasis, deviated nasal septum, and higher initial disability ratings for PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder with anxious distress and GERD, hiatal hernia, reflux esophagitis, Barrett's esophagus.
- Denied
The Board denied restoration of the 30 percent ratings for left knee arthritis (flexion), left knee strain arthritis (extension), and left knee instability, as well as a 20 percent rating for left ankle chronic sprain. The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were also denied.
- Partly granted
The Board granted an earlier effective date of April 20, 2021 for total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) and basic eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance but denied a higher rating than 50 percent for somatic symptom disorder from June 13, 2024 to February 12, 2025.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for a supplemental medical opinion regarding the severity of the Veteran's knee and ankle disabilities without medication, as well as an opinion on the etiology of his psychiatric conditions.
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