The Veteran's claim for a right thumb disability was denied as there is no evidence of current disability.,Service connection for OSA was granted based on the opinion linking it to service, despite an initial denial in 2019.,Left ear hearing loss was not found due to lack of current disability meeting VA criteria.,Right ear hearing loss was granted as noise exposure is conceded and there are STRs documenting threshold shifts.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's right thumb disability claim lacks a current diagnosis, thus failing the first element of service connection.,The OSA claim has a positive nexus opinion linking it to service based on combat-related symptoms.,Left ear hearing loss was not found as there is no evidence meeting VA criteria for hearing loss.,Right ear hearing loss was granted due to in-service noise exposure and STRs documenting threshold shifts.
- Claimed conditions
- Right thumb disability, Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), Left ear hearing loss, Right ear hearing loss
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 6, 2024
- Citation
- A24053660
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 A24053660.
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.
- 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 Board has remanded the claims for further development due to insufficient evidence and need for additional examinations.
- Dismissed
The appeal for service connection for a right ear hearing loss disability is dismissed. The appeal for service connection for bilateral knee disabilities is denied.
- Denied
The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss disability does not meet or approximate criteria for a compensable (10%) disability rating at any point during the appeal period.
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