The Board granted service connection for irritable bowel syndrome, left sciatic radicular pain, and headaches. It also granted an initial rating of 70 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and a rating of 30 percent for lipoma of the skin on the back of the head. The claims for increased ratings for right knee strain with shin splints and left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome were denied, as was the claim for an initial compensable rating for allergic rhinitis.

The deciding factor: The decision to grant service connection for IBS, left sciatic radicular pain, and headaches was based on evidence showing their onset during service. The grant of a higher initial rating for PTSD was supported by evidence indicating occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas but not total occupational and social impairment.

Claimed conditions

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Left Ear Hearing Loss, Left Sciatic Radicular Pain, Headaches, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Lipoma of the Skin on the Back of the Head, Right Knee Strain with Shin Splints, Left Knee Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome with Shin Splints, Degenerative Disc Disease of the Lumbosacral Spine, Left Lower Extremity Radiculopathy, Allergic Rhinitis, Right Ear Hearing Loss

How they argued it

Direct service connection

Exposure basis

None

Rating assigned

None in this decision

Decision date

October 14, 2025

Citation

A25088234

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