The Veteran's claims for service connection for COPD, sleep apnea, and dental disability (broken teeth) were denied. The rating reduction from 20 percent to 10 percent for right shoulder strain with tendonitis and degenerative joint disease was granted. The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for PTSD, major depressive disorder, and alcohol abuse is remanded.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not support a causal relationship between the Veteran’s current disabilities and his military service or any specific exposure (e.g., burn pit), leading to denial of claims for COPD, sleep apnea, and dental disability. The rating reduction was granted as the examinations used were less full and complete than those that continued the prior rating.
- Claimed conditions
- COPD, sleep apnea, dental disability (broken teeth)
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- October 18, 2018
- Citation
- 18142929
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 18142929.
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.
- 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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