The Board denied service connection for sinusitis, bilateral ankle sprain, asthma, obstructive sleep apnea, headaches, restless leg syndrome, and sinus bradycardia as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions began during active service or were related to an in-service injury or disease.,The Board also remanded several issues including service connection for bilateral hip strain, initial rating for lumbar spine sprain, initial rating for left leg shin splints, initial rating for right leg shin splints, and initial rating for left knee sprain.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not show a current disability related to the in-service events or diseases. The VA examiners found no chronicity of the conditions post-service and concluded that they were less likely caused by service.
- Claimed conditions
- sinusitis, bilateral ankle sprain, asthma, obstructive sleep apnea, headaches, restless leg syndrome, sinus bradycardia
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 14, 2020
- Citation
- 20066628
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.
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The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, effective from the date of the February 2025 rating decision.
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- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the issue of entitlement to service connection for obstructive sleep apnea due to a duty to assist error.
- Granted
The Veteran was granted a 70 percent disability rating for unspecified trauma and stressor-related disorder with major depressive disorder, recurrent, and alcohol use disorder in early remission, as well as TDIU due to asthma and SMC at the housebound rate.
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