The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, a headache disability, and sleep apnea secondary to a service-connected psychiatric disability. The remaining issues have been remanded.
The deciding factor: Service connection was established based on the Veteran's credible testimony and medical evidence linking his current disabilities to his military service.
- Claimed conditions
- Acquired psychiatric disability, Headache disability, Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), Fibromyalgia, Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), Memory loss, Degenerative osteoarthritis of the right shoulder, Degenerative osteoarthritis of the left shoulder, Degenerative osteoarthritis of the right elbow, Degenerative osteoarthritis of the left elbow, Degenerative osteoarthritis of the right knee, Degenerative osteoarthritis of the left knee, Degenerative osteoarthritis of the right ankle, Degenerative osteoarthritis of the left ankle
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 6, 2024
- Citation
- 24006523
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 24006523.
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.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal regarding attorney fees for past-due benefits awarded in a June 2021 rating decision is dismissed as moot due to the waiver of rights by R.V.C.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), finding that both conditions are secondary to the Veteran's service-connected lower back condition and sinusitis, respectively.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's request to readjudicate the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability with alcohol and drug abuse is granted. The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence sufficient to readjudicate the claim has been received, but further development is needed due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error regarding verification of reported deaths in service.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for a higher level of SMC was denied as the Board found that he is already in receipt of SMC at the (l) rate based on need for regular aid and attendance due to service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease with congestive heart failure. A second award of SMC at the (l) rate based on need for regular aid and attendance was not warranted.
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