The Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied. The Board has found that the Veteran's OSA and related conditions are not related to his active duty service, while his heart condition, hypertension, and other claimed conditions lack sufficient evidence of a nexus to his military service.
The deciding factor: The VA examinations and medical records do not provide sufficient evidence to establish a link between the Veteran's current conditions and his military service.
- Claimed conditions
- {"condition_name":"Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)","claimed_conditions":["Headaches","Bronchitis","Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)","Lung Nodule","Facial Tic","Body Jerks While Sleeping","Bilateral Leg Twitching","Hematuria","Anemia"]}, {"condition_name":"Heart Condition","claimed_conditions":["Left Ventricular Hardening","Unstable Angina","Atrial Fibrillation"]}, {"condition_name":"Hypertension"}
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 8, 2020
- Citation
- 20001629
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a medical examination to determine if the Veteran's current neck strain is related to his in-service activities.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD due to an inadequate medical opinion.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for myasthenia gravis based on the Veteran's exposure to hazardous substances during his military service.
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This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.