CAVC Case 22-3013: PTSD
CAVCReal U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (CAVC) decision · 2022-03-01 · MEREDITH, Judge
This is a decision of the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims — the federal court that reviews Board of Veterans' Appeals decisions, one level above the Board. Court decisions can vacate, reverse, or affirm what the Board did.
Official 2026 VA monthly compensation, including the 2.8% COLA increase.
Dependent add-ons start at a 30% rating. Child-only and dependent-parent rates: see the full 2026 pay chart.
2026 base rates, all ratings (veteran alone)
| Rating | Monthly (2026, incl. 2.8% COLA) |
|---|---|
| 10% | $180.42 |
| 20% | $356.66 |
| 30% | $552.47 |
| 40% | $795.84 |
| 50% | $1,132.90 |
| 60% | $1,435.02 |
| 70% | $1,808.45 |
| 80% | $2,102.15 |
| 90% | $2,362.30 |
| 100% | $3,938.58 |
Conditions Claimed
PTSDPsychiatricKneeAnkleArthritis
Referral disclosure: VetAid earns a referral fee if you become a paying REE Medical client through this link — it helps keep this site free. REE Medical provides paid medical evidence; it is not a law firm, VSO, or claims agent, and VetAid has not independently verified its services. VSOs and VA-accredited representatives will help you file your claim at no cost, and no one can guarantee a rating increase.
Issues on Appeal
Service ConnectionReopenKnee ConditionPTSD
Why It Was Decided This Way
As for secondary service connection,the examiner found that [t]he two conditions are not medically related, [t]he claimed disorder is a separate entity entirely from the service[-]connected condition and unrelated to it, [t]he medical literature does not support a medical relationship, and thus [a]nexus has not been established.
As for the left knee,the examiner also provided a negative nexus opinion,explaining that [n]o complaints were noted in service []or for many years after, the non-union of the patella is consistent with a congenital finding and not related to [s]ervice trauma, and the appellant was unaware of this condition until .
In a subsequent July 2019 VA medical opinion,a different clinician provided a negative nexus opinion as to the issue of secondary service connection of the appellant's right knee, reasoning that the appellant has service-connected right ankle and foot disabilities and that a secondary problem will typically occur on the contralateral (left)side.
Parties'Arguments Regarding his PTSD claim,the appellant argues that VA failed in its duty to assist because VA did not request that the Military Records Research Center attempt to verify his claimed MST, even though he supplied sufficient information to trigger VA's duty to do so.
He also argues that the Board erred by relying on insufficient medical opinions to deny compensation for his bilateral knee conditions.
In that regard, he contends that the May 2017 medical examiner did not offer any rationale for her negative nexus opinion as to direct service connection other than pointing to a 27-year gap without treatment and suggesting that she could not opine on direct causation without resorting to speculation.
He argues that the examiner's opinion as to secondary service connection is likewise inadequate because it was based upon a [f]inding that the medical literature does not support a nexus without reasoning provided by the examiner herself as to whether the bilateral foot condition could possibly cause the right knee condition or cites to the medical literature relied upon.
As for the February 2019 VA opinion,the appellant maintains that the examiner also focused on the gap in treatment between service and his current complaints and failed to address whether a congenital left knee condition was a disease or defect or was aggravated by service.
Authorities Cited
Denial Type
No Nexus|Duty To Assist|Inadequate Exam
Find Similar Decisions for Your Claim
VetAid's analyzer maps your claim against thousands of real Board of Veterans' Appeals decisions like this one — surfacing the exact case law that supports your arguments.
Run my claim through VetAid →