The Veteran's service connection claim for sleep apnea was granted, but the initial disability rating for fecal incontinence from December 22, 2017 to July 3, 2018 was denied.,For the period after July 3, 2018, a higher disability rating of 60% for fecal incontinence was granted.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's sleep apnea was found to have existed prior to service and not aggravated by service. For the initial rating period from December 22, 2017 to July 3, 2018, the criteria for a higher disability rating were not met.,For the period after July 3, 2018, the Veteran's impairment of sphincter control was found to cause extensive leakage and fairly frequent involuntary bowel movements, which more nearly approximated the criteria for a 60% disability rating.
- Claimed conditions
- Sleep apnea, Fecal Incontinence
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 60%
- Decision date
- April 3, 2020
- Citation
- 20023385
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 20023385.
What this means for you
A partial grant means some issues were granted while others were denied or remanded — common in multi-issue claims. Look at which issues went which way, and how each was argued.
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 Veteran's claims for sleep apnea and acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) due to insufficient evidence of record. The Veteran is required to undergo VA examinations to determine if his conditions are related to service.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral pes planus with hammer toes, hallux valgus and degenerative arthritis, sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and bilateral kidney cysts, rendered him unable to secure or follow gainful employment. The Board granted the TDIU based on these conditions.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, as it is unclear whether his condition is caused or aggravated by his service-connected musculoskeletal disabilities and obesity. The AOJ will need to provide a VA examination to clarify these issues.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew the claims for psychiatric disability and sleep apnea.,Service connection was granted for right lower extremity radiculopathy and left lower extremity radiculopathy secondary to a service-connected back disability, but denied for right wrist disability.
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