The Veteran's OSA requires the use of a CPAP machine and was not properly rated by the RO under the criteria pertaining to secondary service connection and aggravation. The Board finds that an initial compensable rating (50%) is warranted for OSA.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner did not provide specific baseline severity of the Veteran's OSA prior to the onset of aggravation by a service-connected septoplasty, resulting in a noncompensable rating under Diagnostic Code 6847. The post-aggravation manifestations most nearly approximate a 50% rating based on the use of a CPAP machine.
- Claimed conditions
- Obstructive Sleep Apnea
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 50%
- Decision date
- April 2, 2019
- Citation
- 19124732
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,104 · Granted: 28% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 19124732.
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
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Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
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The Board has granted service connection for Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Neck Disability, and Bilateral Upper Extremity Radiculopathy. The decision is based on the Veteran's active service and medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.
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