The Veteran's lumbar spine disability, variously diagnosed as degenerative disc disease and intervertebral disc syndrome, is granted service connection. His cervical spine DDD is denied due to lack of chronicity within the presumptive period. OSA is granted service connection based on aggravation by PTSD. ED secondary to PTSD is remanded.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's lumbar spine disability was found to be related to his in-service injury, while his cervical spine DDD did not manifest within the first year of discharge and lacks continuity of symptomatology. OSA was found aggravated by his service-connected PTSD, but ED secondary to PTSD is remanded for further evaluation.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar spine disability, cervical spine disability, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), erectile dysfunction (ED)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 100%
- Decision date
- August 6, 2019
- Citation
- 19160239
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 19160239.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
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 various conditions, including prostate cancer and related disabilities, urinary incontinence, sleep apnea, hypertension, varicose veins, lumbar spine disability, hip arthritis, shoulder arthritis, ankle arthritis, knee strain, knee replacement, and hand arthritis. The only condition granted was a 10 percent rating for a fracture of the right proximal first metacarpal.
- Partly granted
The Veteran was granted a 70 percent initial disability rating for PTSD effective December 2, 2021, but the claim for an increased rating in excess of 70 percent was denied. The appeal also included claims for service connection and ratings for various conditions, some of which were granted while others were remanded.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) based on the Veteran's exposure to in-service chemical agents.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for multiple conditions, including bilateral hearing loss and various musculoskeletal issues, as well as an initial rating in excess of 0 percent for rhinitis. However, the Board granted a 70 percent rating for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
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