The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been granted. The right knee strain, left knee strain, lumbar strain, cervical strain, laryngopharyngeal reflux disease (LPRD), and sleep apnea are all rated at the 10% level. The anterior palatoplasty and uvuloplasty scar claim is denied.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's claims were remanded multiple times for additional examinations, but he failed to attend the scheduled VA examinations. As a result, the Board evaluated his claims based on the evidence of record, which supported the current ratings assigned under Diagnostic Codes 5260 and 4.71a.
- Claimed conditions
- Right Knee Strain, Left Knee Strain, Lumbar Strain, Cervical Strain, Laryngopharyngeal Reflux Disease (LPRD), Sleep Apnea, Anterior Palatoplasty and Uvuloplasty Scar
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- September 5, 2023
- Citation
- 23048471
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 23048471.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea, finding that the evidence did not support a link between the condition and service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's PTSD rating was reduced from 70 percent to 50 percent, effective February 20, 2025. The Board finds the reduction improper and restores the 70 percent disability rating for PTSD.
- Denied
The claims for PTSD, an acquired psychiatric disorder, memory loss/memory problems, chronic fatigue, sleep difficulties/sleep disturbances, and sleep apnea have been denied. The claim for service connection for residuals of testicular denervation and varicosectomy has been granted.
- Granted
The Veteran's right and left knee strains, as well as shin splints, were granted increased ratings. The Veteran also received special monthly compensation at the housebound rate from October 25, 2017 to March 11, 2024.
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