The Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and an increased rating for eczema of the hands and feet were denied. The Board found that there was no evidence linking the conditions to service, and the current ratings are appropriate based on the severity of the skin condition.
The deciding factor: There is no evidence showing a direct link between the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea and his military service or any other service-connected disability. For eczema, the Board found that the current rating adequately reflects the severity of the condition as it does not cover more than 40 percent of the entire body or exposed areas affected.
- Claimed conditions
- obstructive sleep apnea, eczema
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- December 9, 2019
- Citation
- 19192420
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 19192420.
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.
- 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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