The Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee arthritis, diabetes mellitus, and right hallux valgus were denied as new and relevant evidence did not tend to prove or disprove the elements of service connection.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for tension headaches secondary to PTSD and obstructive sleep apnea secondary to PTSD are granted.
The deciding factor: New and relevant evidence submitted by the Veteran was found insufficient to establish a nexus between his current conditions and service, or within any applicable presumptive periods.,The VA examiner opined that the Veteran's tension headaches and OSA were less likely due to PTSD. The private examiner provided more detailed opinions supporting the Veteran's claims.
- Claimed conditions
- Right Knee Arthritis, Diabetes Mellitus, Right Hallux Valgus, Tension Headaches, Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 17, 2024
- Citation
- A24026090
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 A24026090.
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Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for a higher rating prior to August 12, 2013 was denied as his right knee disability did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 5003.,The Veteran's claim for a higher rating from April 1, 2016 was denied as he is already receiving the maximum allowable disability rating of 60 percent for total right knee replacement.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's PTSD rating was reduced from 70 percent to 50 percent, effective February 20, 2025. The Board finds the reduction improper and restores the 70 percent disability rating for PTSD.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims of entitlement to service connection for vertigo and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The Veteran's hearing loss is not rated higher than 10 percent.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that the claims for service connection for OSA and insomnia must be remanded due to inadequate VA examinations and opinions, as well as a failure to obtain TERA opinions on all relevant exposures.
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