The Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and an increased rating for PTSD were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of in-service incurrence or a nexus between the Veteran’s reported snoring during service and his current sleep apnea, nor did it find sufficient evidence to establish a link between his PTSD and any other condition.
The deciding factor: The lack of objective evidence relating to sleep apnea in the Veteran's service treatment records, including his own denial of frequent trouble sleeping, was considered against a finding of service connection for sleep apnea. The Board also found insufficient evidence to support an increased rating for PTSD beyond 50 percent and 70 percent.
- Claimed conditions
- sleep apnea, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 18, 2020
- Citation
- A20018972
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation A20018972.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including bipolar disorder and PTSD. The Veteran will be asked to provide additional medical records and undergo a VA examination.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, is being remanded due to the need for additional development regarding his alleged stressors.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case for additional development regarding the Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, migraine headaches, and PTSD due to additional development of records and examination.
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