The Veteran's claims for service connection for hammer toes, tinea pedis with onychomycosis, and pseudofolliculitis barbae have been reopened. However, the Board finds that there is no evidence of a current disability or any link to service.,The Veteran was denied service connection for sleep apnea due to lack of exposure documentation.
The deciding factor: There is insufficient medical evidence to establish a current disability related to hammer toes, tinea pedis with onychomycosis, and pseudofolliculitis barbae. The VA examinations did not find any diagnosis of these conditions during the appeal period.,The Veteran's exposure to sand, dust, and vehicle exhaust fumes while in Kuwait and Iraq from September 2002 through August 2003 is insufficient evidence for service connection as sleep apnea.
- Claimed conditions
- hammer toes, pseudofolliculitis barbae, tinea pedis with onychomycosis
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 2, 2019
- Citation
- 19190423
Veterans Law Judge
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 19190423.
What this means for you
A remand is not a loss. The Board sent the case back for more development — often a new exam or missing records — before making a final decision. Many remands later end in a grant, and the decision spells out exactly what the Board wanted to see.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities require regular aid and attendance, resulting in the grant of special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance. The issue of entitlement to special monthly compensation at the housebound rate is moot.
- Denied
The Veteran's request for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for pseudofolliculitis barbae is denied as there is no legal authority to assign an earlier effective date, and the RO has already assigned the earliest possible effective date for the award of service connection.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected pseudofolliculitis barbae is rated at a 10 percent disability rating, the minimum allowed under VA regulations. The condition involves less than 20% of exposed areas but does not meet criteria for higher ratings.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for a bilateral knee condition, high blood pressure, and low back condition. Service connection was also denied for pseudofolliculitis barbae.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
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.