The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for earlier effective dates for service connection for various conditions, including obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), left hip degenerative arthritis, and other musculoskeletal issues.

The deciding factor: The earliest effective date available was based on the date of receipt of the Veteran's Intent to File, which in this case was May 17, 2021, for OSA, and April 15, 2022, for other conditions. No evidence supported an earlier effective date.

Claimed conditions

obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), left hip degenerative arthritis (limitation of flexion), left knee degenerative arthritis, right knee fracture with degenerative arthritis, laceration forehead, status post car accident, left hip degenerative arthritis (impairment of thigh), left hip degenerative arthritis (limitation of extension), post concussive headaches, right hand degenerative arthritis, distal 4th metacarpal fracture (ring finger), right hand degenerative arthritis, distal 5th metacarpal fracture (little finger), right hand degenerative arthritis, limitation of motion of the index finger, right hand degenerative arthritis, limitation of motion of the long finger, right hand degenerative arthritis, limitation of motion of the thumb

How they argued it

Direct service connection

Exposure basis

None

Rating assigned

None in this decision

Decision date

February 7, 2025

Citation

A25011617

Want to see how appeals like this one tend to go? Appeals like mine