The Veteran's claim for service connection for cervical degenerative disk disease is denied as the disability did not manifest during service and is unrelated to service.,Service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome is denied because there is no current diagnosis of CFS at any time during the appeal period.,Service connection for fibromyalgia is remanded due to lack of a current diagnosis. The Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is also remanded as it involves complex medical issues and requires further examination and opinion.
The deciding factor: The cervical spine disability did not manifest during service, nor is there any evidence linking the current condition to service.,There is no current diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome in the Veteran's records. The Board finds that he does not have a current CFS disability.,Service connection for fibromyalgia cannot be granted as there is no current diagnosis and further examination is needed.
- Claimed conditions
- cervical degenerative disk disease, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia syndrome, obstructive sleep apnea
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 14, 2020
- Citation
- 20003327
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.
- 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.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for asthma and remanded claims for insomnia and sleep apnea. Other conditions were denied.
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.