The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea with fatigue, headaches, a lower gastrointestinal disability (IBS), a neck disability (cervical spine arthritis), and a low back disability (lumbar spine degenerative disc disease and facet arthropathy of L5-S1).,Service connection was also granted for a left shoulder disability (degenerative joint disease) based on the Veteran's reports of in-service injuries.
The deciding factor: The Board found that there is medical evidence establishing a link between the Veteran’s active duty service and his current diagnoses, including sleep apnea with fatigue, headaches, IBS, cervical spine arthritis, lumbar spine degenerative disc disease and facet arthropathy of L5-S1, and degenerative joint disease of the left shoulder. The Board granted service connection for these conditions based on the Veteran's reports of symptoms during and since service.
- Claimed conditions
- sleep apnea with fatigue, headaches, lower gastrointestinal disability, diagnosed as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), neck disability, diagnosed as cervical spine arthritis, low back disability, diagnosed as lumbar spine degenerative disc disease and facet arthropathy of L5-S1, left shoulder disability, diagnosed as degenerative joint disease
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 12, 2018
- Citation
- 18157441
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 18157441.
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.
- Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's headaches are at least as likely as not caused by his service-connected traumatic brain injury, and thus grants service connection for this condition.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development of records and will provide a supplemental statement of the case if necessary.
- Partly granted
The Board has not made a final determination on the claims of service connection for inguinal hernia, PTSD, joint pain, fibromyalgia, left knee disability, right knee disability, tinnitus, chronic fatigue syndrome, respiratory disability, sleep disorder, IBS, and headaches. The claims are remanded to obtain additional evidence and determine if these conditions are related to service.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches was reopened due to new and material evidence, and the Board found that his current headaches are related to service. Service connection is granted.
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