The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for syncopal episodes, finding that there is no evidence of a separate and distinct disability such as transient ischemic attacks (TIAs), which would be required to establish service connection. The Veteran's symptoms were found to be related to his complex migraines.
The deciding factor: The Board determined that the Veteran does not have a diagnosis of TIAs, which is necessary for service connection in this case.
- Claimed conditions
- syncopal episodes
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 23, 2020
- Citation
- 20005770
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.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's claims for muscle deterioration, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), heart condition, syncopal episodes, fibromyalgia, memory loss, and neurological condition are dismissed as the claim is considered duplicative.,The Veteran's claims for CFS, a heart condition, syncopal episodes, fibromyalgia, memory loss, and a neurological condition to include tremors and/or Parkinson's disease are denied. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions occurred in service or were caused by exposure to Gulf War environmental hazards.
- 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.
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