Board decisionsVA Case Search

Board of Veterans' Appeals · AMA series

Entitlement to an initial 70 percent rating, but no higher, for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) with major depressive disorder (MDD) is granted.

July 30, 2026Citation Nr. A26069902Docket 240522-442187va.gov source

  • PTSD with major depressive disorder (initial rating 70% vs higher)Granted
  • Left knee degenerative joint disease, status post ACL repair (left knee disability)Denied
  • Left knee disability, limitation of extensionDenied
  • Left knee instabilityDenied
  • Separate rating for a meniscus condition of the left kneeRemanded
DecisionAnalysis

Board reasoning

The Board granted a 70 percent initial rating for PTSD with MDD based on a holistic assessment showing deficiencies in most areas, and denied higher or separate ratings for the knee issues after weighing ROM, stability, and functional loss. The JMPR remanded the claim related to a left knee meniscus condition for an adequate retrospective and procedural update, and instructed future development to consider prior meniscal surgeries and residual signs.

Issues

  • PTSD with major depressive disorder (initial rating 70% vs higher)Granted
  • Left knee degenerative joint disease, status post ACL repair (left knee disability)Denied
  • Left knee disability, limitation of extensionDenied
  • Left knee instabilityDenied
  • Separate rating for a meniscus condition of the left kneeRemanded

Authorities

  • Mauerhan v. Principi, 16 Vet. App. 436illustrates symptom-driven approach to disability ratings under 38 C.F.R. § 4.130
  • Vazquez-Claudio v. Shinseki, 713 F.3d 112emphasizes holistic analysis of symptoms and impairment in most areas
  • Bankhead v. Shulkin, 29 Vet. App. 10requires holistic assessment of symptoms and impairment across applicable areas
  • Lynch v. McDonough, 21 F.4th 776federal circuit guidance on evaluating psychiatric impairment; reasonable doubt standard

Extracted with gpt-5-nano-2025-08-07. Citations are kept only when they appear in the decision text.