The Board granted service connection for rhinitis and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) on a presumptive basis due to exposure to fine particulate matter during active service in Southwest Asia. The Board also granted increased ratings of 30 percent, and no higher, for headaches, thoracolumbar spine strain, right rotator cuff tendonitis, and left rotator cuff tendonitis from December 13, 2021.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's rhinitis and IBS are presumed related to his exposure to fine particulate matter during active service in Southwest Asia. The headaches, thoracolumbar spine strain, right rotator cuff tendonitis, and left rotator cuff tendonitis caused functional impairment equivalent to the specified levels.
- Claimed conditions
- headaches, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), left rotator cuff tendonitis, rhinitis, right rotator cuff tendonitis, thoracolumbar spine strain
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Burn pits / airborne hazards
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- December 1, 2025
- Citation
- A25102806
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 719 · Granted: 54% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation A25102806.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's headaches are at least as likely as not caused by his service-connected traumatic brain injury, and thus grants service connection for this condition.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development of records and will provide a supplemental statement of the case if necessary.
- Partly granted
The Board has not made a final determination on the claims of service connection for inguinal hernia, PTSD, joint pain, fibromyalgia, left knee disability, right knee disability, tinnitus, chronic fatigue syndrome, respiratory disability, sleep disorder, IBS, and headaches. The claims are remanded to obtain additional evidence and determine if these conditions are related to service.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches was reopened due to new and material evidence, and the Board found that his current headaches are related to service. Service connection is granted.
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