The Veteran's claims for service connection for dyspnea and obstructive sleep apnea are denied. The Board has found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of any respiratory or pulmonary condition, but has remanded the issue of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea due to potential secondary relationship with his service-connected lower back condition.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner did not find a direct link between the Veteran's service and either dyspnea or obstructive sleep apnea. However, the Board found that there was insufficient evidence in the August 2016 VA examination to consider whether the current obstructive sleep apnea is related to his lower back condition.
- Claimed conditions
- dyspnea, obstructive sleep apnea
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 7, 2019
- Citation
- 19184569
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 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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for various conditions, including GERD, chronic kidney disease, COPD, a heart condition, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, insomnia, and obstructive sleep apnea, as additional development is necessary to address the Veteran's exposure to toxic chemical agents during his service.
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