The Board has determined that the Veteran's back and left hip disabilities are not service-connected, as there is no evidence linking these conditions to his active military service.,Regarding the breathing disability (including a nasal disability, sinus disability, and COPD), the Board found insufficient evidence to establish a direct link between the condition and service. However, it granted secondary service connection for sleep apnea due to PTSD, finding that the Veteran's PTSD likely aggravated his pre-existing sleep apnea.,The Board also granted secondary service connection for GERD, attributing its onset or exacerbation to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not establish a direct link between the claimed conditions and active military service. However, it found that the Veteran's service-connected PTSD likely aggravated his pre-existing sleep apnea and GERD.
- Claimed conditions
- back disability, left hip disability, breathing disability (including a nasal disability, sinus disability, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), sleep apnea, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 2, 2019
- Citation
- 19160264
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 19160264.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the issue of entitlement to service connection for a back disability due to a duty to assist error, specifically regarding VA's failure to provide the Veteran with a VA examination prior to the rating decision.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and pernicious anemia, and the Board dismissed both appeals.
- 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.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea as there is no evidence of an in-service injury or disease, and no competent evidence linking the condition to service.
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