The Veteran's service connection claims for obstructive sleep apnea with fatigue, right knee arthritis, left hip arthritis, lumbosacral spine degenerative disc disease and cervical spine degenerative disc disease were granted. The effective dates for the right knee and left hip conditions are set at April 14, 2010, while those for the lumbosacral spine and cervical spine conditions are set at August 20, 2010.
The deciding factor: The RO awarded service connection based on presumptive exposure to disease or injury during a period of war or peacetime service after December 31, 1946. The effective dates were determined based on the date that the disability manifested to a compensable degree within one year from the Veteran's discharge.
- Claimed conditions
- Obstructive sleep apnea with fatigue, Degenerative joint disease of right knee, Degenerative joint disease of left hip, Degenerative joint disease and degenerative disc disease of lumbosacral spine, Degenerative joint disease and degenerative disc disease of cervical spine
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 14, 2015
- Citation
- 1539131
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 1539131.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Veteran's right shoulder strain with impingement is granted a rating of 20 percent from December 11, 2012. Other service-connected conditions are denied increased ratings.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to outstanding treatment records and need for examinations. The issues include service connection, increased ratings, and a higher evaluation for major depressive disorder.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for left shoulder and bilateral knee disabilities due to missing records and inconsistencies in previous examinations.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for degenerative joint disease in the bilateral hands, left hip, right shoulder, and left knee as secondary to his service-connected right knee disability.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
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.