The Board has denied service connection for various conditions, including hearing loss of the left ear, sleep apnea, and respiratory insufficiency (dyspnea), among others. The Veteran's claims were not supported by sufficient evidence to establish a link between these conditions and his military service.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence did not support a causal relationship between the Veteran's current diagnoses and his military service.
- Claimed conditions
- Hearing loss of the left ear, Sleep apnea, Hydronephrosis, Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), Obsessive-compulsive disorder, Respiratory insufficiency (dyspnea), Cervical degenerative disc disease and degenerative joint disease C6-7, claimed as neck condition, Radiculopathy of the right upper extremity, Radiculopathy of the left upper extremity, Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), Hearing loss of the right ear
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 17, 2026
- Citation
- A26024006
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 A26024006.
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 has found that a remand is necessary due to the Veteran's assertion of worsening hearing loss. The case will be returned for further development, including scheduling a VA examination and obtaining any outstanding medical records.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for sleep apnea and acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) due to insufficient evidence of record. The Veteran is required to undergo VA examinations to determine if his conditions are related to service.
- Granted
The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation (SMC) at the (o) rate and SMC at the (r)(2) rate, effective January 19, 2025. The decision finds that the Veteran's service-connected conditions warrant these awards due to his need for aid and attendance.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral pes planus with hammer toes, hallux valgus and degenerative arthritis, sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and bilateral kidney cysts, rendered him unable to secure or follow gainful employment. The Board granted the TDIU based on these conditions.
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