The Board denied service connection for an ear disorder and obstructive sleep apnea, finding no evidence of a nexus to service. The claim for levoscoliosis with degenerative changes in the lumbar spine was denied as final due to lack of new and material evidence.
The deciding factor: The Veteran did not present any competent medical evidence linking his current conditions to service or post-service treatment, including VA records showing no complaints or diagnoses prior to 2011 for sleep apnea and hearing loss. The Board found the evidence insufficient to reopen the claim for levoscoliosis with degenerative changes in the lumbar spine due to lack of new and material evidence.
- Claimed conditions
- Ear Disorder, Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Acquired Psychiatric Disorder (to include Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD))
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 22, 2017
- Citation
- 1723484
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 1723484.
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 has granted service connection for the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected left knee and left ankle conditions.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected other specified insomnia disorder.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and heart disability, including coronary artery disease, as these conditions are found to be proximately due to or the result of the Veteran's service-connected PTSD.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Neck Disability, and Bilateral Upper Extremity Radiculopathy. The decision is based on the Veteran's active service and medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.
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