The Board denied service connection for vascular disease and obstructive sleep apnea as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred in or caused by active service, including due to Gulf War exposures.
The deciding factor: The VA medical opinions indicated that it is less likely than not that the current vascular disease was related to service, and there was no evidence of symptoms during service. The Veteran's post-service history showed a more recent onset of symptoms many years after service separation, which outweighed his assertions of continuity of symptomatology since service.
- Claimed conditions
- vascular disease (peripheral vascular disease status post aortoiliac and right femoral endarterectomy and abdominal aortic aneurysm), obstructive sleep apnea
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 4, 2021
- Citation
- 21061555
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.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew the appeals for service connection for bilateral pes planus, obstructive sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the issue of entitlement to service connection for obstructive sleep apnea due to a duty to assist error.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for various conditions, including GERD, chronic kidney disease, COPD, a heart condition, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, insomnia, and obstructive sleep apnea, as additional development is necessary to address the Veteran's exposure to toxic chemical agents during his service.
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