The Board denied service connection for DDD of the thoracolumbar spine and sleep apnea, finding no credible evidence linking these conditions to service.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's accounts of in-service injuries were inconsistent with contemporaneous records and post-service histories, and there was no in-service injury or disease related to the current conditions.
- Claimed conditions
- {"condition_name":"Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) of the thoracolumbar spine","related_condition_names":["Sleep apnea"]}, {"condition_name":"Sleep apnea"}
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 16, 2020
- Citation
- 20073202
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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