The Veteran's claim for fibrositus scapulothoracic condition was granted with an effective date of June 1, 2013. The earlier effective date for tinnitus is denied.,The Board has determined that the Veteran’s obstructive sleep apnea should be remanded to obtain a medical opinion regarding its etiology.
The deciding factor: For fibrositus scapulothoracic condition, the effective date was set at June 1, 2013 as it is considered the day following separation from active service. For tinnitus, an earlier effective date than July 31, 2014 is denied.,Obstructive sleep apnea requires a remand to determine its etiology due to conflicting opinions in the medical records.
- Claimed conditions
- fibrositus scapulothoracic, tinnitus, obstructive sleep apnea
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- Burn pits / airborne hazards
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 9, 2019
- Citation
- 19192141
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 19192141.
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 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 service connection for tinnitus to correct a duty to assist error, as the Veteran's lay statements regarding onset and continuity of symptoms were not adequately considered in the previous 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).
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for tinnitus, cubital tunnel syndrome, right plantar fasciitis, and a right knee disability due to the lack of evidence supporting a nexus between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.
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