The Veteran's claim for service connection for sciatica, left lower extremity was denied as there is no current disability. The claim for service connection for snoring and breathing problems (claimed as sleep apnea) is remanded due to the need for a medical opinion regarding whether in-service nose fractures caused later developed sleep apnea.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's VA treatment records did not demonstrate a current left lower extremity disability, and his lay statements were considered. The examiner was asked to opine on whether the Veteran’s in-service nose fractures at least as likely as not caused his later developed sleep apnea.
- Claimed conditions
- sciatica, snoring and breathing problems (claimed as sleep apnea)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 31, 2019
- Citation
- 19107502
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.
- Dismissed
The Board denied the veteran's appeals for service connection due to untimely filings.
- Dismissed
The Board denied the veteran's attempts to appeal rating decisions that denied service connection for various conditions and reduced his evaluation, as the appeals were not timely filed.
- Dismissed
The appeal was dismissed due to the Veteran's death while it was pending.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for diabetic peripheral neuropathy as it is etiologically linked to the Veteran's service-connected diabetes. Other claims were remanded for further development.
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