The Board granted service connection for PTSD and an initial 20 percent rating for dry eye syndrome with pinguecula, while denying service connection for other psychiatric disorders, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and multiple musculoskeletal conditions. Some claims were remanded for further development.

The deciding factor: The decision was based on the medical evidence supporting a diagnosis of PTSD related to in-service sexual trauma and the criteria met for a 20 percent rating for dry eye syndrome with pinguecula.

Claimed conditions

dry eye syndrome with pinguecula and inactive allergic conjunctivitis, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, alcohol abuse, sleep disturbances, memory loss (acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD), bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, plantar fasciitis, loss of sense of smell, headaches, right shoulder pain, left shoulder pain, right wrist pain, left wrist pain, right knee pain, left knee pain

How they argued it

Direct service connection

Exposure basis

None

Rating assigned

20%

Decision date

December 18, 2025

Citation

A25109533

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