The Veteran's service connection claims for cervical and lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, scars on the left hand, allergic rhinitis, asthma, COPD, sleep apnea, heart condition, and GERD have been denied. The VA has ordered additional examinations to address these issues.,The Veteran is not entitled to service connection for his claimed conditions as there is no evidence of a nexus between his current diagnoses and active service.
The deciding factor: There is insufficient medical evidence to establish a link between the Veteran's current diagnoses and his military service. The preponderance of the evidence does not support that any of these conditions began during or are otherwise related to his time in service.,The VA has ordered additional examinations to address whether there is a nexus between the Veteran's current respiratory, skin, gastrointestinal, and cardiovascular conditions and his active service.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative Disc Disease of the Cervical Spine, Degenerative Disc Disease of the Lumbar Spine, Scars on Left Hand, Allergic Rhinitis, Asthma, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), Sleep Apnea, Heart Condition, Gastrointestinal Reflux Disorder (GERD), Right Hand Scars
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- November 20, 2018
- Citation
- 18151346
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 18151346.
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: Denied
The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea, finding that the evidence did not support a link between the condition and service.
- Whole decision: Denied
The claims for PTSD, an acquired psychiatric disorder, memory loss/memory problems, chronic fatigue, sleep difficulties/sleep disturbances, and sleep apnea have been denied. The claim for service connection for residuals of testicular denervation and varicosectomy has been granted.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's allergic rhinitis is currently rated as 10 percent disabling prior to September 16, 2024 and noncompensable thereafter. The Board found the evidence against finding that his condition met the criteria for a higher rating.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's asthma is currently rated as 10 percent disabling, and the Board finds that this rating adequately compensates his service-connected condition.
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