The Board denied service connection for various disabilities, including headaches, hip and knee problems, sleep apnea, foot conditions, and psychiatric disorders, as there was no evidence of in-service incurrence or aggravation and the Veteran's current symptoms were not shown to be related to his military service.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not show that the Veteran had any of the claimed disabilities during service or that they were caused by or worsened due to his military service. The Board found the in-service denials of problems, as well as post-service medical records, more probative than the Veteran's claims.
- Claimed conditions
- headaches, left hip disability, right hip disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, sleep apnea, sleep disturbances, right foot disability (pes planus and plantar fasciitis), left foot disability (pes planus and plantar fasciitis), acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD, anxiety, alcohol use disorder)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 30, 2025
- Citation
- A25056270
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder to ensure a proper examination and etiology opinion are provided.
- 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.
- 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.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea as there is no evidence of an in-service injury or disease, and no competent evidence linking the condition to service.
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