The Board denied increased ratings for PTSD, headaches, left knee MCL strain with limitation of flexion, and left knee MCL strain with bracing post-surgery, but granted service connection for CFS, left leg RLS, and a 10 percent rating for scar, left lower extremity knee. The effective date for the 70 percent rating for PTSD and the 30 percent ratings for headaches, OSA, and scar, left lower extremity knee were also granted from April 26, 2013.

The deciding factor: The decision was based on the severity of the Veteran's symptoms and their impact on his occupational and social functioning, as well as the evidence supporting service connection for certain conditions.

Claimed conditions

Posttraumatic stress disorder with major depressive disorder, Headaches - migraine variants, Left knee MCL strain with limitation of flexion, Left knee MCL strain with bracing post-surgery, Sleep apnea (OSA), Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), Allergic rhinitis, Left leg restless leg syndrome, Scar, left lower extremity knee, Bilateral hearing loss, Bilateral tinnitus, Functional abdominal pain syndrome with abdominal pain and bloating, Hypertension, Coronary heart disease (CHD)

How they argued it

Presumptive (no nexus needed)

Exposure basis

None

Rating assigned

None in this decision

Decision date

October 14, 2025

Citation

A25088461

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