The Veteran's claims for service connection for a respiratory disorder, obstructive sleep apnea, and tinnitus have been denied as new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claims.,Service connection was denied for obstructive sleep apnea due to lack of in-service complaints or treatment.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service records did not show any complaints, diagnoses, or treatment related to these conditions during his active duty. The evidence submitted since the last denial is cumulative and does not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claims.
- Claimed conditions
- {"condition_name":"Respiratory disorder to include as due to smoke inhalation"}, {"condition_name":"Obstructive sleep apnea"}, {"condition_name":"Tinnitus"}
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 16, 2020
- Citation
- 20003517
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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