The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected syncope did not render him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment due to his history of opiate and benzodiazepine dependence or abuse, which diminished the credibility of his reports.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's long history of substance abuse and inconsistent statements regarding his medical history made his claims less credible.
- Claimed conditions
- Syncope
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 28, 2024
- Citation
- 24013182
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 24013182.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
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 case due to insufficient evidence and a potential error in decision-making. The AOJ is required to provide complete notice of the decision, address all relevant evidence including billing information, and re-adjudicate the claim under section 1725.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for hand tremors and insomnia, but denied service connection for muscle pain disorder, joint pain disorder, right lower extremity neurological disorder, left lower extremity neurological disorder, chronic fatigue disorder, digestive disorder, and syncope.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the cases for further development, including obtaining SSA records beyond medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess syncope associated with DM and hypertension.
- Denied
The Board denied an initial disability rating greater than 30 percent for PTSD and remanded the claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, diabetes mellitus, type II, syncope, and a compensable initial disability rating for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.