The Board denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, obesity, acid reflux disability, sleep phobia, and sexual impotence as not being related to the veteran's active service or his service-connected bronchial asthma. The claim of entitlement to service connection for sinus disability on a direct-incurrence basis was reopened but ultimately denied. Bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were also denied.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence did not support a finding that any of these conditions were related to the veteran's active service or his service-connected bronchial asthma, and there was no new and material evidence to reopen the claim for sinus disability on a direct-incurrence basis. The veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus were also denied as they were not shown to be related to his military service.
- Claimed conditions
- Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Obesity, Acid Reflux Disability, Sleep Phobia, Sexual Impotence, Sinus Disability, Bilateral Hearing Loss, Tinnitus
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 17, 2009
- Citation
- 0905725
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's conditions are related to in-service noise exposure.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD, entitlement to TDIU, and SMC based on housebound status.
- Partly granted
The Board granted an effective date of May 17, 2019, for a 70 percent disability rating for PTSD but denied earlier effective dates for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.
- Partly granted
The Board granted readjudication of previously denied claims for service connection for PTSD and COPD, while remanding other issues including entitlement to service connection for an eye disorder, hypertension, tinnitus, a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, TDIU, and an initial rating for PTSD.
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