The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an initial compensable rating for hypertension and service connection for ischemic heart disease, and remanded the claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea secondary to PTSD, TDIU, and SMC.
The deciding factor: The evidence of record does not support a finding that the Veteran has ischemic heart disease or that his service-connected hypertension warrants a compensable rating. The Board also found the VA medical opinion regarding the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea inadequate and remanded for an addendum opinion.
- Claimed conditions
- hypertension, ischemic heart disease, obstructive sleep apnea
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 12, 2025
- Citation
- A25022876
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, effective from the date of the February 2025 rating decision.
- Granted
The Board granted an effective date of October 21, 2021, for the grant of service connection for hypertension.
- Dismissed
The appeal for a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss, service connection for right ear hearing loss, and bilateral vision condition was dismissed. Service connection for hypertension, congestive heart failure, and coronary artery disease was denied.
- 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.
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