The Board denied service connection for a broken nose, deviated septum, low back disability, left foot numbness, right foot numbness, sinus disability, left elbow and forearm disability, left knee disability, and right shoulder strain. Service connection was granted for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and left hamstring strain. The Board also denied an initial evaluation in excess of 70 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder with residuals of a traumatic brain injury, an initial evaluation in excess of 30 percent for migraine headaches, an initial evaluation in excess of 20 percent for fibromyalgia, and an evaluation in excess of 20 percent for irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea. The Board denied a total disability rating based on individual unemployability as a result of service-connected disabilities prior to December 1, 2023.

The deciding factor: The Veteran's claims were denied due to the lack of evidence showing that his claimed conditions are related to his military service or any other service-connected condition. The Board found that the evidence did not support a link between the Veteran's current conditions and his active duty service, with the exception of GERD which was granted based on the evidence presented.

Claimed conditions

broken nose, deviated septum, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), low back disability, left foot numbness, right foot numbness, sinus disability, left elbow and forearm disability, left knee disability, left hamstring strain, right shoulder strain, right ankle strain, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) with residuals of a traumatic brain injury (TBI), migraine headaches, fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) with diarrhea

How they argued it

Not specified

Exposure basis

None

Rating assigned

None in this decision

Decision date

May 9, 2025

Citation

A25042193