The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, and his nose injury residuals are unrelated to service.,The preponderance of the evidence shows that the Veteran's COPD is not related to service.,The preponderance of the evidence shows that the Veteran’s cervical spine (neck) disability is not related to service.,The preponderance of the evidence shows that the Veteran’s lumbar spine (low back) disability is not related to service.,The preponderance of the evidence shows that the Veteran’s rheumatoid arthritis is not related to service.,The preponderance of the evidence shows that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of acute febrile illness, and his left lower extremity scarring due to MRSA infection is not related to service.,The preponderance of the evidence shows that the Veteran’s sleep disability (OSA and chronic insomnia) is subsumed under his service-connected PTSD diagnosis.

The deciding factor: There is no STR or other contemporaneous evidence documenting the in-service nose injury, and the examiner found it less likely than not related to service.,The Veteran was initially diagnosed with COPD 24 years after his period of ACDUTRA, and there is no evidence indicating a breathing problem/COPD began during his service period.,There are no STRs documenting the in-service neck injury, and the examiner found it less likely than not related to service.,There are no STRs documenting the in-service low back disability, and the examiner found it less likely than not related to service.,The Veteran was initially diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis 24 years after his period of ACDUTRA, and there is no evidence indicating a rheumatoid arthritis diagnosis during his service period.,There are no STRs documenting the in-service acute febrile illness or MRSA infection, and the examiner found it less likely than not related to service.,The Veteran’s sleep disability (OSA and chronic insomnia) is subsumed under his service-connected PTSD diagnosis.

Claimed conditions

Acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, Nose injury residuals, Chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD), Neck disability (DDD of the cervical spine and as due to rheumatoid arthritis), Low back disability (DDD of the lumbar spine and as due to rheumatoid arthritis), Rheumatoid arthritis, Acute febrile illness, left lower extremity scarring due to MRSA infection, Sleep disability (OSA and chronic insomnia)

How they argued it

Direct service connection

Exposure basis

None

Rating assigned

None in this decision

Decision date

November 12, 2020

Citation

20072943

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 20072943.