The Veteran is granted an effective date of July 24, 2023 for the award of a 100 percent disability rating for persistent depressive disorder with alcohol use disorder, cocaine use disorder and cocaine induced psychotic disorder.,The Veteran is also granted an effective date of July 24, 2023 for the award of SMC based on housebound criteria.,However, the Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for right knee osteoarthritis with degenerative arthritis and painful motion prior to November 26, 2024 is denied.
The deciding factor: The effective date of July 24, 2023 was granted as the Veteran continuously pursued his claim since receiving notice of intent to file on that date.,SMC based on housebound status was also granted due to continuous pursuit from July 24, 2023.,For right knee osteoarthritis with degenerative arthritis and painful motion, the effective date cannot be earlier than November 26, 2024 as there is no evidence of an increase in disability within a year prior to that date.
- Claimed conditions
- Persistent Depressive Disorder with Alcohol Use Disorder, Cocaine Use Disorder and Cocaine Induced Psychotic Disorder, Right Knee Osteoarthritis with Degenerative Arthritis and Painful Motion
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 100%
- Decision date
- April 27, 2026
- Citation
- A26039063
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 A26039063.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar myositis, psychoneurosis and conversion hysteria, residuals of shrapnel wounds of the left thigh and pelvis with retained foreign bodies and scars, and residuals of shell fragment wounds of the right thigh and left leg. The veteran was also denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected coronary artery disease, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the severity of his condition.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected musculoligamentous strain, right knee, is currently rated at 10 percent and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted as the evidence shows a current diagnosis of PTSD, an in-service stressor, and a medical link between the two.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
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.