The Board granted service connection for a back disability secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability and assigned an initial rating of 10 percent for hypertension.

The deciding factor: The weight of the competent evidence was at least in approximate balance that the Veteran's lumbosacral strain is as likely as not related to his service-connected right knee disability, thus granting secondary service connection. The Board also granted a 10 percent initial rating for hypertension based on the evidence showing a history of diastolic pressure predominantly 100 or more requiring medication use for control.

Claimed conditions

back disability, sleep apnea, erectile dysfunction (ED), hypertension, major depressive disorder with anxious distress, right knee limitation of extension, left hip trochanteric pain syndrome (TPS) with limitation of extension, right hip TPS with limitation of extension, left hip TPS with limitation of flexion, right hip TPS with limitation of flexion, tinnitus, bilateral foot disability, to include pes planus and plantar fasciitis, right wrist tendinopathy, residuals of perianal abscess

How they argued it

Secondary to another service-connected condition

Exposure basis

None

Rating assigned

10%

Decision date

March 27, 2025

Citation

A25028612