The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's sleep apnea and potential exposure to toxic substances during service. The Veteran is seeking service connection for his obstructive sleep apnea, which he claims began in service. However, the VA examiner found no link between his current condition and active duty service.
The deciding factor: The Board finds that the existing evidence does not sufficiently establish a link between the Veteran's current sleep apnea and his military service, including potential toxic exposure.
- Claimed conditions
- severe obstructive sleep apnea, hypopnea syndrome
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 24, 2023
- Citation
- 23040397
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 23040397.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection of severe obstructive sleep apnea to obtain an addendum opinion regarding its etiology, including whether it is related to in-service toxic exposure and aggravation by service-connected conditions.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for ischemic heart disease, cerebrovascular accident, peripheral vascular disease, COPD, and severe obstructive sleep apnea, all of which are presumed to be related to herbicide exposure during the Veteran's service in Thailand. The secondary service connection claim for obstructive sleep apnea is also granted.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for a chronic right shoulder disorder and severe obstructive sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are related to his active duty service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran seeks service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, which he claims is related to his military service and exposure to liquid fuel. The Board has determined that a remand is necessary due to the need for additional development including obtaining medical records and providing an examination.
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