The Veteran's service connection claims for a chronic left knee disorder, lumbar spine disorder, upper gastroesophageal disorder, and obstructive sleep apnea were denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or that any such disabilities are related to his military service.,Specifically, the Board found that the Veteran did not have a diagnosed chronic left knee disorder, lumbar spine disorder, or upper gastroesophageal disorder during service or within one year after separation. The VA examiner also concluded that OSA was less likely than not due to or aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected sinusitis.
The deciding factor: The evidence does not show a current disability for any of the conditions and there is no medical opinion linking these disabilities to service.,The VA examiner found that the Veteran’s OSA was less likely than not due to his service-connected sinusitis, as it was more likely related to obesity.
- Claimed conditions
- {"condition_name":"Chronic left knee disorder"}, {"condition_name":"Lumbar spine disorder"}, {"condition_name":"Upper gastroesophageal disorder"}, {"condition_name":"Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)"}
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 17, 2019
- Citation
- 19103810
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
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- Granted
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