The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected PTSD and back disability was denied. The Veteran also had claims for higher ratings for his lumbar spine disability, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy which were all denied.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not support a finding that the service-connected PTSD or back disability caused or aggravated the Veteran's sleep apnea. The VA examiner found no significant spinal canal stenosis or ankylosis of the thoracolumbar spine, and the weight of the evidence supported the conclusion that obesity was the primary cause of the Veteran's sleep apnea.
- Claimed conditions
- sleep apnea, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), back disability
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- September 11, 2018
- Citation
- 18133930
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 18133930.
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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The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, is being remanded due to the need for additional development regarding his alleged stressors.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case for additional development regarding the Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, migraine headaches, and PTSD due to additional development of records and examination.
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