The Veteran claims service connection for arthritis of multiple joints, including the lumbar and cervical spines, left and right shoulders, hands, and feet. He also seeks service connection for sleep apnea secondary to a deviated nasal septum. The Board finds that new evidence supports reopening of his claim for arthritis but denies the claim for sleep apnea as there is no clear link between the current condition and service.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's in-service injuries are recognized, and current diagnoses include multiple joint arthritic conditions. However, the causal relationship to service remains unclear due to conflicting medical opinions regarding the etiology of his sleep apnea.
- Claimed conditions
- {"joint_arthritis":["lumbar spine","cervical spine","left shoulder","right shoulder","left hand","right hand","left foot","right foot"]}
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 2, 2010
- Citation
- 1041061
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 1041061.
What this means for you
A partial grant means some issues were granted while others were denied or remanded — common in multi-issue claims. Look at which issues went which way, and how each was argued.
What you can do next
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- Denied
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- Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted as the evidence shows a current diagnosis of PTSD, an in-service stressor, and a medical link between the two.
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