The Veteran's cervical spine disability is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.,Service connection for left shoulder condition is denied as there is no evidence of an in-service injury or disease related to the current condition.,Service connection for right knee strain (right knee condition) is denied due to lack of continuity of symptoms since service.,Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea claimed as secondary to PTSD is granted.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's cervical spine disability does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic code, including those related to IVDS. The range of motion measurements do not warrant a higher rating.,There is no evidence linking the current left shoulder condition to an in-service injury or disease. The Veteran’s medical records show that he did not report symptoms until approximately four years after discharge.,The right knee strain was first diagnosed in 2016, and there is no continuity of symptoms since service. Therefore, it cannot be linked to the Veteran's active duty service.,While the Veteran has a current diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), which he claims is secondary to his PTSD, the Board finds that the evidence does not support this claim.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative Arthritis of the Spine (Cervical Spine Disability), Left Shoulder Condition, Right Knee Strain (Right Knee Condition), Obstructive Sleep Apnea
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 26, 2019
- Citation
- 19158197
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 19158197.
What this means for you
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Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected left knee and left ankle conditions.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected other specified insomnia disorder.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and heart disability, including coronary artery disease, as these conditions are found to be proximately due to or the result of the Veteran's service-connected PTSD.
- Granted
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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