The reduction of the disability rating for service-connected narcolepsy from 80 percent disabling to 20 percent disabling was improper and is void ab initio. The Veteran's 80 percent rating for narcolepsy should be restored effective June 1, 2018.
The deciding factor: The reduction of the disability rating was not followed by proper procedural due process requirements as required by VA regulations.
- Claimed conditions
- narcolepsy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 80%
- Decision date
- August 22, 2019
- Citation
- 19165536
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 19165536.
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.
- Partly granted
The Veteran's effective date for the award of an 80 percent rating for narcolepsy is granted from August 11, 2015.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the issue of entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for narcolepsy due to seemingly contradictory findings in a January 2024 VA examination report that cannot be resolved through consideration of other evidence.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for a neck condition, bilateral elbow condition, bilateral hip condition, bilateral ankle condition, and narcolepsy due to inadequate VA examinations and potential pre-decisional duty to assist errors.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for narcolepsy, resolving all reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.