The Board granted a 70 percent rating for PTSD, denied ratings in excess of 30 percent for left and right knee strains, granted separate 10 percent ratings for painful, noncompensable limitation of flexion of the knees, granted service connection for back condition and related radiculopathies, but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a right shoulder condition.

The deciding factor: The Veteran's symptoms most closely approximate the level associated with a 70 percent rating for PTSD. The evidence is in equipoise as to whether the current back disability had its inception during active-duty service, and the radiculopathies are causally related to the low back disability.

Claimed conditions

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Left Knee Strain, Right Knee Strain, Scar, Upper Lip, Scars, Left Lower Extremity, Back Condition, Left Leg Radiculopathy, Right Leg Radiculopathy, Bilateral Hearing Loss, Right Shoulder Condition

How they argued it

Secondary to another service-connected condition

Exposure basis

None

Rating assigned

70%

Decision date

December 9, 2025

Citation

A25105803

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