The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected thoracic spine and bilateral lower extremity disabilities.,The Board has also remanded several issues, including service connection for a right shoulder disorder, left shoulder disorder, hypertension, gastrointestinal disorder other than GERD, and TDIU.
The deciding factor: The evidence is in equipoise as to whether the service-connected thoracic spine and bilateral lower extremity disabilities caused obesity, which was a substantial factor in causing sleep apnea and GERD.,Additional medical opinions are needed on whether the bilateral shoulder disorders, hypertension, stroke, gastrointestinal disorder other than GERD, and TDIU claim are related to the service-connected thoracic spine and bilateral lower extremity disabilities.
- Claimed conditions
- sleep apnea, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), right shoulder disorder, left shoulder disorder, hypertension, gastrointestinal disorder other than GERD
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 24, 2018
- Citation
- 18137690
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 18137690.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hypertension and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to conflicting opinions regarding service connection for peripheral neuropathy, hypertension, and skin disabilities related to herbicide exposure.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension and increased rating for anxiety disorder have been denied. The Board found that there is no evidence of a current disability meeting the criteria for hypertension, and the Veteran's anxiety disorder does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.
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