Service connection is granted for sleep apnea and hypertension. Service connection is denied for high cholesterol, fibromyalgia, left shoulder disability, left hip disability, right hip disability, left knee disability, tinnitus, throat condition, respiratory condition, and acid reflux.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's major depressive disorder caused his obstructive sleep apnea, warranting service connection on a secondary basis. The term 'cholesterol' is not considered a disability for VA purposes, thus denying service connection for high cholesterol. Service connection was granted for hypertension due to the Veteran's reported pain and poor sleep quality related to his service-connected sleep apnea.
- Claimed conditions
- sleep apnea, high cholesterol, fibromyalgia, left shoulder disability, left hip disability, right hip disability, left knee disability, tinnitus, throat condition, respiratory condition, hypertension, acid reflux
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- October 1, 2018
- Citation
- 18139941
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 18139941.
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.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew the appeals for service connection for fibromyalgia and Gulf War unexplained chronic multi-symptom illness, bronchus, as well as an extension of the temporary 100 percent disability evaluation.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a direct service connection opinion and an adequate secondary service connection aggravation opinion.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for scarring, right orchiopexy and remanded the claim of asbestos exposure residuals. Other claims for service connection were denied.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for asthma and remanded claims for insomnia and sleep apnea. Other conditions were denied.
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