The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim of service connection for sleep apnea, including as secondary to PTSD. The case is being sent back for a VA examination to determine if the sleep apnea is related to his active duty service or any service-connected conditions, and whether it is caused by medications used to treat other conditions.
The deciding factor: The Board found that further medical evaluation is needed to clarify the etiology of the Veteran's sleep apnea and its relationship to his service-connected disabilities and/or medications.
- Claimed conditions
- sleep apnea, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), ulcerative colitis, residuals of right knee surgery, left knee arthritis, residuals of a left elbow injury, hearing loss, tinnitus, coronary artery disease with residuals of myocardial infarction, arthritis of the spine, left hip strain, right hip strain, hemorrhoids, erectile dysfunction
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 27, 2018
- Citation
- 18122000
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 18122000.
What this means for you
A remand is not a loss. The Board sent the case back for more development — often a new exam or missing records — before making a final decision. Many remands later end in a grant, and the decision spells out exactly what the Board wanted to see.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for diabetes mellitus type II with erectile dysfunction was denied as the evidence did not show that he had been diagnosed and manifested to at least a 10 percent disability rating on or prior to May 8, 2001.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to incomplete medical records and need for further examination.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including bipolar disorder and PTSD. The Veteran will be asked to provide additional medical records and undergo a VA examination.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, arthritis, and memory loss. The decision found no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.
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