The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's current condition is not related to her military service or a service-connected disability. The claim was also denied for a stroke due to lack of evidence linking it to any service-connected conditions.,Both claims were denied as there was no credible evidence showing a direct link between the Veteran's sleep apnea and/or stroke and her military service, or any service-connected disabilities.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the medical opinions provided did not support a connection between the Veteran’s current sleep apnea and her military service. The opinion noted that obstructive sleep apnea is more likely due to obesity rather than her service-connected conditions.,For the stroke claim, the Board concluded there was no evidence linking it to any service-connected disabilities or medications taken for those conditions.
- Claimed conditions
- sleep apnea, stroke
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 29, 2020
- Citation
- 20070150
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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- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea as there is no evidence of an in-service injury or disease, and no competent evidence linking the condition to service.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for asthma and remanded claims for insomnia and sleep apnea. Other conditions were denied.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including sinusitis, elbows condition, cervical condition, erectile dysfunction, kidney condition, sleep apnea, wrists condition, asthma, shoulders condition, ankles condition, eye condition (bilateral dry macular degeneration), peripheral vascular disease (heart condition), and rhinitis.
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