The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, a headache disability, and obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities but denied earlier effective dates for increased ratings of chronic sinusitis and tinnitus.
The deciding factor: The increase in severity of the Veteran's chronic sinusitis and tinnitus was not shown within one year prior to the March 20, 2019 application date, while the acquired psychiatric disability, headache, and obstructive sleep apnea were found to be secondary to service-connected conditions.
- Claimed conditions
- chronic sinusitis, tinnitus, acquired psychiatric disability (claimed as a mental health condition), headache disability, obstructive sleep apnea
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 23, 2025
- Citation
- A25046487
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for tinnitus to correct a duty to assist error, as the Veteran's lay statements regarding onset and continuity of symptoms were not adequately considered in the previous 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).
- 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.
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