The Board denied earlier effective dates for the grants of service connection and TDIU, as well as initial ratings in excess of 50 percent for sleep apnea, a compensable rating for hypertension, and increased ratings for various other disabilities.

The deciding factor: The evidence did not establish an intent to file claims prior to the dates assigned by VA, and the Veteran failed to report for scheduled examinations, which resulted in denials of higher ratings.

Claimed conditions

sleep apnea, hypertension, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), right knee disability, left knee disability, residual scars, multiple shell fragment wounds of the left leg, residual scars, post-operative multiple shell fragment wounds right leg and ankle, residual scar, gunshot wound to the head, residual scar, shell fragment wound left hand, monilia dermatitis groin, bilateral pes planus, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus

How they argued it

Direct service connection

Exposure basis

None

Rating assigned

None in this decision

Decision date

February 20, 2025

Citation

A25015343

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