The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to a service-connected cervical spine disability. The claims for tinnitus, heart condition, and low back disability have been denied due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to active service. The Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine is currently rated at 30 percent from June 19, 2017.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner found that the Veteran’s low back disability is less likely as not incurred in or caused by his active military service based on a review of the record and clinical experience.
- Claimed conditions
- obstructive sleep apnea, tinnitus, heart condition, low back disability, degenerative disc disease, cervical spine, right upper extremity radiculopathy, left upper extremity radiculopathy
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- April 2, 2019
- Citation
- 19124160
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.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, effective from the date of the February 2025 rating decision.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for tinnitus to correct a duty to assist error, as the Veteran's lay statements regarding onset and continuity of symptoms were not adequately considered in the previous decision.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew the appeals for service connection for bilateral pes planus, obstructive sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for tinnitus, cubital tunnel syndrome, right plantar fasciitis, and a right knee disability due to the lack of evidence supporting a nexus between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.
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