The Board granted an earlier effective date of August 4, 2017, for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea but denied an earlier effective date prior to September 9, 2019, for service connection for migraine tension headaches.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's February 2018 intent to file was received within one year of his separation from active service, and the November 2018 formal claim for service connection was received within one year of the February 2018 intent to file. The earliest communication expressing the Veteran's desire to seek compensation for his headache condition is the formal claim received on September 9, 2019.
- Claimed conditions
- obstructive sleep apnea, migraine tension headaches
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 2, 2025
- Citation
- A25030595
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.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, effective from the date of the February 2025 rating decision.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew the appeals for service connection for bilateral pes planus, obstructive sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the issue of entitlement to service connection for obstructive sleep apnea due to a duty to assist error.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for various conditions, including GERD, chronic kidney disease, COPD, a heart condition, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, insomnia, and obstructive sleep apnea, as additional development is necessary to address the Veteran's exposure to toxic chemical agents during his service.
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