The Veteran's claims for chronic respiratory infections, hemorrhoids (claimed as anal fissure), a left arm condition, and sleep apnea have been denied. A 30 percent rating has been granted for the gastrointestinal disorder (hiatal hernia/GERD) effective March 8, 2018.
The deciding factor: The VA examinations did not find any current diagnoses of chronic respiratory infections, hemorrhoids, a left arm condition, or sleep apnea. The Veteran's symptoms were limited to reflux for the gastrointestinal disorder.
- Claimed conditions
- chronic respiratory infections, hemorrhoids (claimed as anal fissure), left arm disorder (claimed as left arm numbness), sleep apnea
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- September 3, 2019
- Citation
- 19167776
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 19167776.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a direct service connection opinion and an adequate secondary service connection aggravation opinion.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for asthma and remanded claims for insomnia and sleep apnea. Other conditions were denied.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including sinusitis, elbows condition, cervical condition, erectile dysfunction, kidney condition, sleep apnea, wrists condition, asthma, shoulders condition, ankles condition, eye condition (bilateral dry macular degeneration), peripheral vascular disease (heart condition), and rhinitis.
- Dismissed
The appeal for service connection for sleep apnea is dismissed as the benefit sought has been granted, making the case moot.
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.