The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea was denied as there is no current diagnosis of the condition.,PTSD resulted in reduced reliability and productivity, but did not meet criteria for a higher rating.,Tension headaches did not meet criteria for a higher rating based on characteristic prostrating attacks.,Degenerative arthritis of cervical spine did not meet criteria for a higher rating due to limitation of motion.,Right shoulder impingement did not meet criteria for a higher rating due to limitation of motion.,Left shoulder impingement syndrome, rotator cuff tendonitis, did not meet criteria for a higher rating due to limitation of motion.,IBS manifested as moderate, frequent episodes of abdominal distress and did not meet criteria for a higher rating.
The deciding factor: The evidence does not support the presence of sleep apnea. The Veteran's service treatment records do not document this condition, and his current medical records are negative for sleep apnea.
- Claimed conditions
- sleep apnea, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), tension headaches, degenerative arthritis of cervical spine, right shoulder impingement, left shoulder impingement syndrome, rotator cuff tendonitis, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 12, 2026
- Citation
- A26022427
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation A26022427.
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
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