The Veteran's claim for service connection for a cervical spine disability, secondary to left retinal detachment from a car accident, was denied. The Board found new and material evidence sufficient to reopen the claim but continued denial of service connection.,Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea was also denied as there is no evidence of such condition in service or within one year post-service.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner determined that the Veteran's snoring, which he reported since his military service, did not indicate a chronic condition related to service. The medical opinions from private physicians were not supported by current medical evidence and contradicted by the VA examiner.,There is no direct or secondary evidence linking the Veteran’s obstructive sleep apnea to his military service.
- Claimed conditions
- Cervical spine disability, Obstructive Sleep Apnea
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 27, 2019
- Citation
- 19175348
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 19175348.
What this means for you
A partial grant means some issues were granted while others were denied or remanded — common in multi-issue claims. Look at which issues went which way, and how each was argued.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected left knee and left ankle conditions.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected other specified insomnia disorder.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected cervical spine disability is rated at 20 percent, the maximum rating available under the General Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine. The evidence does not support a higher rating as his range of motion did not meet the criteria for an increased rating.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and heart disability, including coronary artery disease, as these conditions are found to be proximately due to or the result of the Veteran's service-connected PTSD.
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