The Board granted service connection for left hip iliopsoas tendonitis, right knee strain, and left knee strain as secondary to lumbosacral strain. Service connection was also granted for cannabis use disorder as secondary to mental health conditions of PTSD, major depressive disorder with alcohol use disorder, and TBI. However, the Board denied an initial disability rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD and granted a separate disability rating of 40 percent for TBI.

The deciding factor: The decision was based on favorable medical opinions from a private chiropractor that linked the Veteran's conditions to her service-connected lumbosacral strain, despite VA examiners' negative opinions. The Board also found that the evidence supported a grant of service connection for PTSD and TBI at their current ratings.

Claimed conditions

left hip iliopsoas tendonitis, right knee strain, left knee strain, cannabis use disorder

How they argued it

Secondary to another service-connected condition

Exposure basis

None

Rating assigned

None in this decision

Decision date

December 30, 2025

Citation

A25110983

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