The Board denied increased ratings for tension headaches with migraine variants and lumbosacral strain with retrolisthesis, compression fracture L1 and degenerative disc disease, but granted a 20 percent rating for left ankle tendonitis status post fracture. The Board also granted service connection for a left knee disorder as secondary to the service-connected conditions and for gastroesophageal reflux disease and cervical spine disorder.
The deciding factor: The decision was based on the severity of the symptoms and their impact on daily functioning, with no evidence of an exceptional or unusual disability picture that would warrant an extraschedular rating.
- Claimed conditions
- tension headaches with migraine variants, lumbosacral strain with retrolisthesis, compression fracture L1 and degenerative disc disease, left ankle tendonitis status post fracture with post open reduction internal fixation and arthritis, post-traumatic, left ankle scars status post fracture repair, painful left ankle scar, erectile dysfunction, hypertension, left ear hearing loss, obstructive sleep apnea, acquired psychiatric disorder, to include generalized anxiety disorder, left knee disorder as secondary to service-connected left ankle tendonitis and lumbosacral strain, gastroesophageal reflux disease, cervical spine disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 3, 2025
- Citation
- A25057467
What this means for you
A partial grant means some issues were granted while others were denied or remanded — common in multi-issue claims. Look at which issues went which way, and how each was argued.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, effective from the date of the February 2025 rating decision.
- Granted
The Board granted an effective date of October 21, 2021, for the grant of service connection for hypertension.
- Dismissed
The appeal for a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss, service connection for right ear hearing loss, and bilateral vision condition was dismissed. Service connection for hypertension, congestive heart failure, and coronary artery disease was denied.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including prostate cancer and related disabilities, urinary incontinence, sleep apnea, hypertension, varicose veins, lumbar spine disability, hip arthritis, shoulder arthritis, ankle arthritis, knee strain, knee replacement, and hand arthritis. The only condition granted was a 10 percent rating for a fracture of the right proximal first metacarpal.
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