The Board granted service connection for allergic rhinitis, bilateral foot disability, lumbar spine disability, irritable bowel syndrome, headaches, and obstructive sleep apnea. The effective date of March 2, 2022, was granted for the award of service connection for rhinitis, and a 70 percent rating was assigned for other specified trauma and stressor related disorder.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's credible lay statements and inadequate VA opinions supported the granting of service connection for bilateral foot disability and lumbar spine disability. The positive private medical opinion outweighed the negative VA opinions regarding irritable bowel syndrome, headaches, and obstructive sleep apnea.
- Claimed conditions
- allergic rhinitis, bilateral foot disability, lumbar spine disability, irritable bowel syndrome, headaches, obstructive sleep apnea, sinusitis
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 25, 2025
- Citation
- A25102315
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