The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that there is no evidence linking his current condition to his military service or a service-connected disability. The case is being remanded for additional examinations and consideration of the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for Hepatitis C and peripheral neuropathy.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner found that the Veteran’s obstructive sleep apnea is less likely than not caused by his service-connected PTSD, as there is no causal association between PTSD and OSA. The Board also noted that the Veteran has not provided any evidence to support a link between his current sleep apnea and his military service.
- Claimed conditions
- Obstructive sleep apnea, Hepatitis C, Peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity, Peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 23, 2018
- Citation
- 18143959
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 18143959.
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.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for cirrhosis, hepatitis C, hepatocellular carcinoma, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), gastritis, Barrett's esophagus, and obstructive sleep apnea but dismissed the claim for an acquired psychiatric disability.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for cardiac and pulmonary sarcoidosis and obstructive sleep apnea due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error, requiring additional development.
- Partly granted
The appeal was denied for service connection of a cervical spine disorder, and several claims were remanded for further development.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, chronic rhinitis, and obstructive sleep apnea. The headache claim was remanded for further examination.
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