The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and diabetes mellitus partially contributed to his weight gain, which aggravated his obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The Board granted service connection for OSA as secondary to these conditions. However, the Veteran does not have a current seizure disability that is related to his service-connected disabilities.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner found no evidence of a current seizure disorder and concluded that the Veteran's seizures were more likely due to hyperglycemia from poorly controlled diabetes mellitus rather than being secondary to his service-connected conditions.
- Claimed conditions
- obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), seizures, degenerative joint disease (DJD) of the lumbar spine, depressive disorder (secondary to PTSD)
- How they argued it
- Aggravation of a pre-existing condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- June 29, 2018
- Citation
- 18115155
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 18115155.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an initial disability rating in excess of 20 percent prior to March 2, 2017, and in excess of 40 percent thereafter for degenerative joint disease (DJD) of the lumbar spine. The evidence did not establish a nexus between current hearing loss or DJD of the lumbar spine and service.
- Granted
The Veteran's OSA is granted as service connected. The Veteran's infectious disease claim and stomach disability claim are remanded for further examination.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to errors in obtaining relevant medical records and authorization for private treatment providers. The issues include heart disorder, OSA, sinusitis, lumbar spine disorder, and right knee disorder all related to Agent Orange exposure.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) with persistent depressive disorder and insomnia.
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