The Board granted service connection for sleep apnea and a 30 percent rating for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) with gastritis, prior to November 21, 2023. Service connection was denied for PTSD, adjustment disorder, any other mental disorder, cervical spine, lumbar spine, shoulder, elbow, wrist, hip, knee, ankle, and foot disabilities.
The deciding factor: The Board granted service connection for sleep apnea based on a favorable finding that it was related to the Veteran's service-connected allergic rhinitis. Service connection was denied for other mental health conditions due to lack of a formal DSM-5 diagnosis during the pendency of the claim, and for physical disabilities as there was no evidence linking them to service.
- Claimed conditions
- sleep apnea, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), adjustment disorder with anxious mood and/or depressed mood, any other mental disorder, cervical spine (neck) disability, lumbar spine (back) disability, left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, left elbow disability, right elbow disability, left wrist disability, right wrist disability, left hip disability, right hip disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, left ankle disability, right ankle disability, left foot disability, right foot disability
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- October 29, 2024
- Citation
- A24069661
What this means for you
A partial grant means some issues were granted while others were denied or remanded — common in multi-issue claims. Look at which issues went which way, and how each was argued.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including prostate cancer and related disabilities, urinary incontinence, sleep apnea, hypertension, varicose veins, lumbar spine disability, hip arthritis, shoulder arthritis, ankle arthritis, knee strain, knee replacement, and hand arthritis. The only condition granted was a 10 percent rating for a fracture of the right proximal first metacarpal.
- Partly granted
The Veteran was granted a 70 percent initial disability rating for PTSD effective December 2, 2021, but the claim for an increased rating in excess of 70 percent was denied. The appeal also included claims for service connection and ratings for various conditions, some of which were granted while others were remanded.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for tinnitus, cubital tunnel syndrome, right plantar fasciitis, and a right knee disability due to the lack of evidence supporting a nexus between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea as there is no evidence of an in-service injury or disease, and no competent evidence linking the condition to service.
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