The Veteran's right ear hearing loss disability, sleep apnea, neck condition and gastrointestinal condition are all service-connected. The Board has also granted service connection for sinusitis and low back condition. However, the Veteran's bilateral shoulder, elbow, wrist and knee conditions have not been established as service-connected.
The deciding factor: The Veteran provided credible lay evidence of his in-service symptoms and continued complaints post-service, which were supported by positive medical opinions. The VA examinations did not provide a clear opinion on the etiology of these conditions.
- Claimed conditions
- right ear hearing loss disability, sleep apnea, neck condition, sinusitis, gastrointestinal condition (including gastroesophageal reflux disease, gastritis and fatty liver disease), bilateral shoulder condition, bilateral elbow condition, bilateral wrist condition, low back condition (including lumbar paraspinal spasms), bilateral knee condition
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 17, 2017
- Citation
- 1752879
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 1752879.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for migraines was reopened due to new evidence. Service connection is granted for painful scars, but the rating assigned remains at 10 percent. The claims for fibromyalgia and bilateral shoulder disability are denied.
- 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.
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