The Veteran's claims for service connection for breathing problems, lumbago with protruding disc, lower back nerve damage, sleep apnea, and bilateral flat feet have been dismissed. The Veteran's PTSD with other specified depressive disorder has been granted a 70 percent rating prior to December 13, 2019, but denied any higher rating thereafter.
The deciding factor: The Veteran withdrew his claims for the aforementioned conditions in September 2020, and his PTSD symptoms caused occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral flat feet, lower back nerve damage, lumbago with protruding disc, breathing problems, sleep apnea, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) with other specified depressive disorder
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 70%
- Decision date
- May 5, 2023
- Citation
- 23026054
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 23026054.
What this means for you
A dismissal means the Board did not decide the issue on its merits — usually because it was withdrawn or had become moot. It says more about procedure than about whether a claim like this can win.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, finding that there was no evidence of a chronic disease manifesting within one year after service and concluding that the current disability is not related to his in-service deviated septum.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case for additional development regarding the Veteran's claim of service connection for sleep apnea. The Veteran will be provided with a VA examination to determine if his current sleep disorder is related to his military service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the issue of service connection for sleep apnea due to insufficient medical opinions and need for further development.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the claims for sleep apnea and an increased disability rating for diabetes mellitus, type II.
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