The Board denied service connection for narcolepsy as there is no current diagnosis of the condition and the Veteran's symptoms are better explained by other causes such as obstructive sleep apnea.
The deciding factor: The VHA expert concluded that the Veteran does not meet the criteria to be diagnosed with narcolepsy, and his symptoms are more likely due to obstructive sleep apnea.
- Claimed conditions
- narcolepsy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- August 21, 2018
- Citation
- 18128223
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 18128223.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for narcolepsy and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) have been dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing his claims.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the claim for service connection of narcolepsy due to errors in fulfilling its duty to assist and lack of a VA examination.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied an increased rating for narcolepsy, finding the evidence did not show the Veteran experienced seizures as required for a higher rating.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied an evaluation greater than 10 percent for the Veteran's service-connected narcolepsy, finding that his symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on the frequency and type of seizures.
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