The Board granted a 20 percent rating for thoracolumbar spine degenerative disc disease to include spondylosis, but denied increased ratings for patellofemoral pain syndrome of the knees and allergic rhinitis. The claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, headaches, and psychiatric disorder were also denied.

The deciding factor: The decision was based on the severity of the Veteran's symptoms and their impact on his daily life, as well as the lack of evidence supporting a higher rating or service connection for certain conditions.

Claimed conditions

Bilateral hearing loss, Headaches, Psychiatric disorder (schizoaffective disorder and bipolar disorder), Thoracolumbar spine degenerative disc disease to include spondylosis, Patellofemoral pain syndrome with degenerative changes of the right knee, Patellofemoral pain syndrome with mild degenerative changes of the left knee, Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), Allergic rhinitis

How they argued it

Reopened with new and material evidence

Exposure basis

None

Rating assigned

20%

Decision date

October 20, 2025

Citation

A25090441

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