The Board granted service connection for cervical spine, lumbar spine, right knee, and left knee disabilities, as well as radiculopathy of the upper and lower extremities and an insomnia disorder. However, it denied service connection for instability of the left knee and a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus.

The deciding factor: The Veteran's cervical spine, lumbar spine, right knee, and left knee disabilities were found to be directly related to his military service, while radiculopathy of the upper and lower extremities and an insomnia disorder were linked to his service-connected spinal conditions. The instability of the left knee was not shown to have been incurred in or caused by service, and a compensable rating for tinnitus was denied.

Claimed conditions

cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, radiculopathy of the right upper extremity, radiculopathy of the left upper extremity, radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, insomnia disorder

How they argued it

Direct service connection

Exposure basis

None

Rating assigned

None in this decision

Decision date

October 22, 2025

Citation

A25091176

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