The Board granted service connection for cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine disabilities, bilateral pes planus and plantar fasciitis, tinnitus, chronic sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, digestive disabilities including irritable bowel syndrome with abdominal pain and nausea, pelvic organ disabilities, iron deficiency anemia, and genital herpes. Service connection was denied for acne, tendonitis, fibromyalgia, painful joints, left shin splints, right shin splints, left ankle condition, right ankle condition, left carpal tunnel syndrome, right carpal tunnel syndrome, respiratory infection, GERD, PTSD, anxiety condition, manic-depressive reaction, and psychiatric disorder other than unspecified depressive disorder with symptoms of suicidal ideation. An initial 50% rating was granted for the service-connected unspecified depressive disorder.

The deciding factor: The Board found that the Veteran's spinal and bilateral foot disabilities had their onset during service, while other conditions did not meet the criteria for service connection based on the evidence provided.

Claimed conditions

acne, cervical spine disability, thoracic spine disability, lumbar spine disability, bilateral pes planus and plantar fasciitis, tendonitis, fibromyalgia, painful joints, left shin splints, right shin splints, left ankle condition, right ankle condition, left carpal tunnel syndrome, right carpal tunnel syndrome, tinnitus, chronic sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, respiratory infection, digestive disabilities, including irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) with abdominal pain and nausea, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), pelvic organ disabilities, including subchorionic hemorrhage of the uterus, ovarian cysts, recurring urinary tract infections, cystitis, and recurrent bacterial vaginosis, with symptoms of lower quadrant abdominal tenderness, pelvic pain, suprapubic pain, perineal pain, dysuria, micturition, dizziness, and missed abortion, iron deficiency anemia, genital herpes, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety condition, manic-depressive reaction, psychiatric disorder, other than unspecified depressive disorder, with symptoms of suicidal ideation

How they argued it

Direct service connection

Exposure basis

None

Rating assigned

50%

Decision date

October 7, 2025

Citation

A25086589

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