The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including osteoarthritis in multiple joints and other conditions.
The deciding factor: The evidence is at least in equipoise that the Veteran’s currently diagnosed sleep apnea is due to his service-connected disabilities, specifically his musculoskeletal conditions which caused weight gain and obesity.
- Claimed conditions
- sleep apnea, osteoarthritis in the right knee, osteoarthritis in the right ankle, lumbar spine disc disease, cervical spine degenerative disc disease, right shoulder impingement, left shoulder posterior labral tear, degenerative changes left knee, osteoarthritis in the left ankle, bilateral plantar fasciitis, tinnitus, gastroesophageal reflex disorder (GERD), status post right finger fracture, right ear hearing loss, rhinosinusitis
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 17, 2019
- Citation
- 19155492
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 19155492.
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 hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to incomplete medical records and need for further examination.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, arthritis, and memory loss. The decision found no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.
- Granted
The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected. The issues of foot disability and cardiovascular disorder are remanded for additional development.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran experienced tinnitus during his active duty service.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.