The Board denied an initial rating higher than 50 percent for PTSD, granted a 20 percent rating for bilateral dry eye syndrome, and denied ratings higher than 10 percent for left knee strain with arthritis and a compensable initial rating for right ear hearing loss. The Board also denied service connection for left ear hearing loss, tinnitus, left hip arthralgia, right hip arthralgia, right foot pes planus and plantar fasciitis, status post subtalar joint arthrodesis (right foot condition), and candida infections but granted service connection for left leg lower extremity radiculopathy and right leg lower extremity radiculopathy secondary to lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis.

The deciding factor: The probative evidence did not support the Veteran's claims for higher ratings or additional service-connected conditions, while it supported the grant of service connection for certain radiculopathies due to her service-connected low back disability.

Claimed conditions

PTSD, bilateral dry eye syndrome, left knee strain with arthritis, right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, tinnitus, left leg lower extremity radiculopathy, right leg lower extremity radiculopathy, left hip arthralgia, right hip arthralgia, right foot pes planus and plantar fasciitis, status post subtalar joint arthrodesis (right foot condition), candida infections

How they argued it

Direct service connection

Exposure basis

None

Rating assigned

None in this decision

Decision date

November 19, 2025

Citation

A25100350

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