The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee arthritis, hypertension, sleep apnea, intermittent rectal bleeding, reflux disorder, low normal platelet count, and papillary hyperplasia. The appeals are REMANDED for further development regarding skin tags and lesions.
The deciding factor: The Board found no evidence of chronicity or continuity of symptoms relating to the claimed conditions during service or within the presumptive period, and thus denied service connection on a direct basis.
- Claimed conditions
- {"condition_name":"right knee arthritis","claimed_as":"total knee replacement"}, {"condition_name":"left knee arthritis","claimed_as":""}, {"condition_name":"hypertension","claimed_as":""}, {"condition_name":"sleep apnea","claimed_as":""}, {"condition_name":"intermittent rectal bleeding","claimed_as":""}, {"condition_name":"reflux disorder","claimed_as":""}, {"condition_name":"low normal platelet count","claimed_as":""}, {"condition_name":"papillary hyperplasia","claimed_as":""}
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 29, 2019
- Citation
- 19181861
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a medical examination to determine if the Veteran's current neck strain is related to his in-service activities.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD due to an inadequate medical opinion.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for myasthenia gravis based on the Veteran's exposure to hazardous substances during his military service.
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.