The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment during the period from December 28, 2009 to September 30, 2011.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not impair his ability to do any physical or sedentary activities, except for lifting/carrying/pushing/pulling/and reaching overhead. The Veteran was capable of performing the acts required in obtaining and maintaining a substantially gainful occupation.
- Claimed conditions
- sleep apnea, diabetes mellitus, type II with erectile dysfunction, right shoulder arthritis with subacromial bursitis, left shoulder arthritis with status post rotator cuff repair, left knee patellofemoral syndrome with patella tendonitis, right ankle achilles calcaneal tendonitis, thoracolumbar spine degenerative joint and disc disease
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 19, 2017
- Citation
- 1728309
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 1728309.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, finding that there was no evidence of a chronic disease manifesting within one year after service and concluding that the current disability is not related to his in-service deviated septum.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case for additional development regarding the Veteran's claim of service connection for sleep apnea. The Veteran will be provided with a VA examination to determine if his current sleep disorder is related to his military service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the issue of service connection for sleep apnea due to insufficient medical opinions and need for further development.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the claims for sleep apnea and an increased disability rating for diabetes mellitus, type II.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.