The Veteran's claim for service connection for a respiratory disability other than sleep apnea is denied. The claim of left knee arthritis is granted, and the issue of entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea is remanded.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner did not find any evidence linking the Veteran’s respiratory symptoms to her service or any undiagnosed illness, thus denying direct service connection.
- Claimed conditions
- {"condition_name":"Respiratory disability other than sleep apnea","diagnosis":null,"symptoms":["intermittent brief periods of shortness of breath not related to exercise","coughing"]}, {"condition_name":"Left knee arthritis","diagnosis":"Bone spur (osteophyte) related to trauma from rollover accident during service"}
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 14, 2020
- Citation
- 20066492
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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