The Veteran's service-connected sleep apnea is rated at 50 percent, encompassing his previously service-connected chronic bronchitis, asthma, COPD, and allergic bronchospasms. Separate ratings for these conditions are not warranted as they are rated under a single 50 percent disability rating.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's sleep apnea is evaluated under DC 6847, which allows only one combined evaluation for all respiratory disabilities. The other service-connected respiratory conditions (chronic bronchitis, asthma, COPD, and allergic bronchospasms) are rated under DCs 6604-6602.
- Claimed conditions
- Sleep Apnea, Chronic Bronchitis, Asthma, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), Allergic Bronchospasms
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- January 29, 2016
- Citation
- 1602846
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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 1602846.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea, finding that the evidence did not support a link between the condition and service.
- Whole decision: Denied
The claims for PTSD, an acquired psychiatric disorder, memory loss/memory problems, chronic fatigue, sleep difficulties/sleep disturbances, and sleep apnea have been denied. The claim for service connection for residuals of testicular denervation and varicosectomy has been granted.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's asthma is currently rated as 10 percent disabling, and the Board finds that this rating adequately compensates his service-connected condition.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The Veteran's asthma is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.,The Veteran's sleep apnea claim has been remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.
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