The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for sleep apnea and high blood pressure, as well as the claim for an increased rating for major depressive disorder and PTSD. The Veteran's service records show elevated blood pressure readings after discharge, which may have led to a diagnosis of hypertension. For the claims related to sleep apnea and high blood pressure, additional evidence is needed to determine if these conditions are related to service or secondary to other disabilities. A new examination is also required for the psychiatric disability claim.
The deciding factor: The decision was not able to definitively establish whether the Veteran's sleep apnea and hypertension were related to service due to insufficient medical records on file, particularly regarding his blood pressure readings after discharge.
- Claimed conditions
- sleep apnea, high blood pressure
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 12, 2018
- Citation
- 18142076
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 18142076.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a direct service connection opinion and an adequate secondary service connection aggravation opinion.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for asthma and remanded claims for insomnia and sleep apnea. Other conditions were denied.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including sinusitis, elbows condition, cervical condition, erectile dysfunction, kidney condition, sleep apnea, wrists condition, asthma, shoulders condition, ankles condition, eye condition (bilateral dry macular degeneration), peripheral vascular disease (heart condition), and rhinitis.
- Dismissed
The appeal for service connection for sleep apnea is dismissed as the benefit sought has been granted, making the case moot.
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