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 'disability' does not include laboratory results like high cholesterol, thus denying service connection for it.
- 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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess his bilateral knee and hip disabilities.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for migraines was reopened due to new evidence. Service connection is granted for painful scars, but the rating assigned remains at 10 percent. The claims for fibromyalgia and bilateral shoulder disability are denied.
- 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 Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to incomplete medical records and need for further examination.
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