The Veteran's claims for service connection for pancreatitis, obstructive sleep apnea, and high cholesterol were denied. The claim for service connection for a left knee disability was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support reopening of the original claim for service connection for pancreatitis. The claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea was reopened based on new evidence showing it began during active duty service in Iraq. Service connection is granted for this condition. The Veteran's current left knee disability and high cholesterol are denied as they do not meet the criteria for VA compensation benefits.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the evidence did not establish a nexus between the Veteran’s current conditions and his military service, except for obstructive sleep apnea which was linked to active duty service in Iraq.
- Claimed conditions
- pancreatitis, obstructive sleep apnea, left knee disability, high cholesterol
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 20, 2019
- Citation
- 19164422
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 19164422.
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.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew the appeals for service connection for bilateral pes planus, obstructive sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the issue of entitlement to service connection for obstructive sleep apnea due to a duty to assist error.
- 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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