The Board denied increased ratings for cervical and thoracolumbar spine strains, TMJ disorder, dermatitis of the face, right knee chondromalacia grade II with patellar tendonitis, medial meniscal derangement, and Baker's cyst, and bilateral hearing loss. However, service connection was granted for radicular pain paresthesia of the right upper extremity.

The deciding factor: The evidence did not support a higher rating for the claimed conditions due to limited range of motion and lack of ankylosis or incapacitating episodes, while radicular pain and paresthesia of the right upper extremity was found to be causally related to the service-connected cervical spine strain.

Claimed conditions

Cervical spine strain, Thoracolumbar spine strain, Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder, Dermatitis of the face, Right knee chondromalacia grade II with patellar tendonitis, medial meniscal derangement, and Baker's cyst, Limitation of flexion, right knee, Abnormal blood count with a heavy concentration of metals, Hearing loss, Radicular pain paresthesia of the right upper extremity, Posttraumatic residual pain of the right foot

How they argued it

Direct service connection

Exposure basis

None

Rating assigned

None in this decision

Decision date

October 28, 2025

Citation

A25093094

Want to see how appeals like this one tend to go? Appeals like mine