The Board granted service connection for sleep apnea and dismissed the claim for tinnitus as moot, while denying increased ratings for lower extremity radiculopathy and remanding several back and limb conditions for further evaluation.
The deciding factor: The decision was based on evidence of in-service symptoms persisting to the present, and a credible nexus opinion linking sleep apnea to service. Tinnitus was dismissed as already granted by the AOJ with an earlier effective date than the claim's filing date.
- Claimed conditions
- tinnitus, sleep apnea, left lower extremity radiculopathy, right lower extremity radiculopathy, lumbosacral strain with posttraumatic degenerative disc disease and facet arthropathy (back disability), right elbow medial collateral ligament sprain right elbow, left elbow medial collateral ligament sprain right elbow, right knee meniscus tear, left knee meniscus tear, right knee instability, left knee instability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 3, 2025
- Citation
- A25057638
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.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.