The Board denied higher ratings for hypertension and left elbow rheumatoid arthritis, granted a 20 percent rating for dry eye syndrome, and remanded several service connection claims.

The deciding factor: The probative medical evidence did not support the criteria for higher ratings or service connection for most conditions, but did support a 20 percent rating for bilateral dry eye syndrome.

Claimed conditions

hypertension, left elbow rheumatoid arthritis, dry eye syndrome, hemorrhoids, adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, coronary artery disease (CAD), respiratory deficiency to include dyspnea, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)/abdominal pain, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), fibromyalgia, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)

How they argued it

Direct service connection

Exposure basis

None

Rating assigned

None in this decision

Decision date

November 6, 2025

Citation

A25096710

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