The Veteran's claim for sleep apnea is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.,The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable evaluation for residuals of a left testicle injury with partial atrophy, left scrotal orchialgia (pain) and surgical scar status post hydrocelectomy is remanded due to the need for additional examination.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD secondary to a service-connected left testicle disability is remanded due to the need for additional examination and medical opinion.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for a right shoulder disorder, left shoulder disorder, and neck disorder are remanded due to the need for additional examination and medical opinion.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a dental disorder for treatment purposes is remanded due to the need for obtaining in-service mental health records and VA examination.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is remanded due to the need for an additional medical opinion.
The deciding factor: There is no evidence of a current disability of sleep apnea. The Veteran has not been shown to have sleep apnea since filing his claim or within close proximity thereto.,The Veteran's service treatment records are negative for any complaints, diagnosis, or treatment of a sleep disorder. Although post-service treatment records document some sleep problems, they do not show that he has been diagnosed with sleep apnea.,To establish service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, the Veteran must provide evidence showing that his current disability is related to service. The VA examination and medical opinion are needed to determine if there is a link between the Veteran's in-service mental health issues and any current psychiatric disorder.,The right shoulder disorder, left shoulder disorder, and neck disorder claims are remanded due to the need for additional examination and medical opinion as they may be related to service-connected disabilities or other factors not yet addressed.,To establish service connection for a dental disorder for treatment purposes, VA records must be obtained. The Veteran's in-service mental health issues may also be relevant to his current claim.,The Veteran's tinnitus claim is remanded due to the need for an additional medical opinion as the previous opinion was based on speculative reasoning.
- Claimed conditions
- sleep apnea, left testicle injury with partial atrophy and pain, acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD), right shoulder disorder, left shoulder disorder, neck disorder, dental disorder for treatment purposes, tinnitus
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 28, 2024
- Citation
- 24009670
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 24009670.
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 has remanded the claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to incomplete medical records and need for further examination.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, arthritis, and memory loss. The decision found no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.
- Granted
The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected. The issues of foot disability and cardiovascular disorder are remanded for additional development.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran experienced tinnitus during his active duty service.
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