The Board has denied service connection for vasodepressor syncope and upper airway resistance syndrome (claimed as sleep apnea) due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's military service.
The deciding factor: The VA examiners found no causal relationship between the Veteran’s claimed conditions and his military service based on the absence of relevant medical records during service and inconsistent findings over time.
- Claimed conditions
- vasodepressor syncope, upper airway resistance syndrome (claimed as sleep apnea)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 19, 2021
- Citation
- 21009172
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 21009172.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has found the VA examination inadequate and remanded for a new opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's vasodepressor syncope and his active duty service, including toxic exposures.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate evidence and a need for an addendum opinion regarding whether the Veteran's upper airway resistance syndrome was incurred in service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination in July 2020, and needs a new opinion regarding whether the Veteran's upper airway resistance syndrome was incurred in or caused by service.
- Granted
The Veteran's heart disability, characterized as vasodepressor syncope with pacemaker implantation, is rated at 30 percent since November 1, 2018. The claim for TDIU was denied.
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