The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and an increased rating for facial acne, syringomas, and pseudofolliculitis barbae. The decision also referred the issue of a compensable evaluation for a left thigh scar to the agency of original jurisdiction.
The deciding factor: The Board found that there was no evidence linking the Veteran's sleep apnea or skin disorders to his service, despite his assertions and lay statements from fellow service members who observed him snoring during service. The VA medical opinions were more probative than the Veteran's own testimony regarding the etiology of these conditions.
- Claimed conditions
- Obstructive sleep apnea, Acne, Syringomas, Pseudofolliculitis barbae
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 5, 2019
- Citation
- 19143466
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.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, chronic rhinitis, and obstructive sleep apnea. The headache claim was remanded for further examination.
- Partly granted
The appeal was denied for service connection of a cervical spine disorder, and several claims were remanded for further development.
- Granted
The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation (SMC) at the R(1) rate due to his need for regular aid and attendance.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for lumbar spine disability, as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected left foot crush injury, and sciatic radiculopathy of both lower extremities, also secondary to the newly service-connected lumbar spine disability. The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for depressive disorder with unspecified anxiety disorder and a compensable rating for allergic rhinitis.
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