The Board granted service connection for right knee strain, arthralgia, iliotibial band syndrome, and shin splints, restored a 10% rating for the left knee sprain with iliotibial band friction, arthralgia and shin splints based on painful flexion effective April 13, 2021, granted a 30% rating from February 10, 2022, denied ratings in excess of 10% for left knee sprain with iliotibial band friction, arthralgia and shin splints based on limitation of flexion prior to February 10, 2022 and limitation of extension, and remanded service connection for depression as secondary to a service-connected disability.
The deciding factor: The decision was based on the evidence showing that the Veteran's right knee symptoms began during service and continued since separation, and that there was no actual improvement in his left knee condition after five years of a 10% rating.
- Claimed conditions
- right knee strain, arthralgia (joint pain), iliotibial band syndrome, shin splints, left knee sprain with iliotibial band friction, arthralgia and shin splints
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- July 2, 2025
- Citation
- A25057338
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.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for special monthly compensation based on loss of use of his left foot, as there was no evidence showing that the service-connected conditions resulted in functional limitation equal to that of amputation of the left foot with prosthesis.
- 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.
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