The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disability, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and back lipoma. The Veteran's claims were remanded for additional examinations on bilateral hand disabilities, cervical spine disability, bilateral foot disabilities, and bilateral ankle disabilities.,Service connection was not granted for the Veteran's claimed conditions as there is no evidence of a current disability related to his military service.
The deciding factor: The Board found that there is no competent or credible evidence showing that the Veteran currently has a lumbar spine, OSA, or back lipoma disability. The claims were denied as there was not sufficient evidence linking these conditions to his active service.
- Claimed conditions
- {"condition_name":"lumbar spine disability","claimed_condition":true}, {"condition_name":"obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)","claimed_condition":true}, {"condition_name":"back lipoma","claimed_condition":true}
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 24, 2019
- Citation
- 19105349
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
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, effective from the date of the February 2025 rating decision.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a medical examination to determine if the Veteran's current neck strain is related to his in-service activities.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD due to an inadequate medical opinion.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for myasthenia gravis based on the Veteran's exposure to hazardous substances during his military service.
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