The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, and for sleep apnea as secondary to a service-connected condition.,Specifically, the Board found that there was no credible in-service stressor supporting the Veteran’s claim of PTSD. The Veteran did not engage in combat with an enemy, and his personnel records do not verify any of his reported stressors.
The deciding factor: The Board determined that there is insufficient evidence to support a finding of service connection for PTSD due to the lack of verified in-service stressors.
- Claimed conditions
- {"condition_name":"Acquired Psychiatric Disorder (to include Posttraumatic Stress Disorder)"}, {"condition_name":"Sleep Apnea"}
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 31, 2019
- Citation
- 19107306
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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