The Board granted service connection for gout and denied it for bilateral hearing loss, while remanding the claims for left temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ), obstructive sleep apnea, Barrett's esophagus, and sinusitis.
The deciding factor: Service connection was granted for gout based on a nexus to in-service toenail removal. Bilateral hearing loss was denied as it did not meet the criteria for a disability under VA standards.
- Claimed conditions
- gout, bilateral hearing loss, left temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ) to include bruxism, obstructive sleep apnea, Barrett's esophagus, sinusitis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 100%
- Decision date
- January 18, 2024
- Citation
- 24002685
What this means for you
A partial grant means some issues were granted while others were denied or remanded — common in multi-issue claims. Look at which issues went which way, and how each was argued.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, effective from the date of the February 2025 rating decision.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew the appeals for service connection for bilateral pes planus, obstructive sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the issue of entitlement to service connection for obstructive sleep apnea due to a duty to assist error.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for asthma and remanded claims for insomnia and sleep apnea. Other conditions were denied.
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