The Board has denied service connection for a hernia and obstructive sleep apnea. The claim for secondary service connection of GERD is being remanded.,There are no indications that the Veteran's hernia or sleep apnea were incurred during his active duty, and there is insufficient evidence to establish a link between his current conditions and his service.
The deciding factor: The Board found that there was not sufficient evidence to connect the Veteran's current hernia and sleep apnea diagnoses with his military service. The claim for GERD secondary to heat stroke/heat exhaustion is being remanded as there are no clear indications of a connection between these conditions.
- Claimed conditions
- Hernia, Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 21, 2023
- Citation
- A23036870
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 A23036870.
What this means for you
A remand is not a loss. The Board sent the case back for more development — often a new exam or missing records — before making a final decision. Many remands later end in a grant, and the decision spells out exactly what the Board wanted to see.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected left knee and left ankle conditions.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected other specified insomnia disorder.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and heart disability, including coronary artery disease, as these conditions are found to be proximately due to or the result of the Veteran's service-connected PTSD.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Neck Disability, and Bilateral Upper Extremity Radiculopathy. The decision is based on the Veteran's active service and medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.
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