The Board granted service connection for cervical spine disability, GERD with hiatal hernia, and sleep apnea while denying service connection for hypothyroidism, TMJ, stress headaches, and other conditions. The effective dates for the grants of service connection were not earlier than February 27, 2021.
The deciding factor: The evidence was at least in approximate balance as to whether certain disabilities had onset during or related to service, but the preponderance of the evidence did not support a finding of service connection for other conditions.
- Claimed conditions
- tinnitus, cervical spine disability, GERD with hiatal hernia, sleep apnea, hypothyroidism, TMJ, unspecified anxiety disorder and major depression, stress headaches
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 1, 2025
- Citation
- A25056779
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.
- 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.
- 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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