The petition to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea is allowed, and the claim is granted.,The petitions to reopen the claims of entitlement to service connection for low back condition (previously low back pain), left knee pain, right knee pain, left shoulder degenerative arthritis, and right shoulder condition are denied.
The deciding factor: New evidence was submitted that relates to previously unestablished elements necessary to substantiate the claims for service connection.,The new evidence did not relate to previously unestablished elements necessary to substantiate the claims for service connection.
- Claimed conditions
- sleep apnea, low back condition (previously low back pain), left knee pain, right knee pain, left shoulder degenerative arthritis, right shoulder condition
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 6, 2023
- Citation
- 23064633
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 23064633.
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 Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining clarification from the August 2017 VA examiner regarding which symptoms are related to his service-connected left trapezius strain and whether any non-service-connected conditions represent a progression of that disability.
- 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.
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