The Veteran's claim for service connection for gout is denied as there is no evidence of a chronic disability related to active service.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and sleep disturbance are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions addressing aggravation by service-connected conditions.
The deciding factor: There is no clear and specific etiology for gout, as evidenced by the lack of symptoms or diagnoses during active service. The Veteran's statements about joint pain are not credible given his denial of such symptoms on active duty.,The medical opinions provided do not address whether sleep apnea is aggravated by hypertension or other specified traumatic disorders, nor does it provide a clear opinion regarding the relationship between Non-REM sleep arousal disorder and service-connected conditions.
- Claimed conditions
- gout, obstructive sleep apnea, sleep disturbance (claimed as insomnia)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 14, 2020
- Citation
- A20015561
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.
- 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.
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.