The Veteran's claims for service connection, a compensable rating for allergic rhinitis, and a higher rating for obstructive sleep apnea prior to February 3, 2016 have all been denied. The Veteran's left knee disability is not considered due to active duty service. His allergic rhinitis does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under Diagnostic Code 6522. And his obstructive sleep apnea has not required use of a CPAP machine, chronic respiratory failure with carbon dioxide retention or cor pulmonale, or tracheostomy.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's left knee disability is not shown to be related to service and there is no current diagnosis of a left knee disability. The Veteran does not have obstructive sleep apnea that requires use of a CPAP machine, chronic respiratory failure with carbon dioxide retention or cor pulmonale, or tracheostomy.
- Claimed conditions
- left knee disability, allergic rhinitis, obstructive sleep apnea
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 18, 2019
- Citation
- 19186772
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.
- Denied
The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's lumbar spine pain, allergic rhinitis, and recurrent yeast infections. The claims for service connection for generalized anxiety disorder with alcohol use disorder and left knee pain were remanded.
- 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.
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