The Veteran's service-connected obstructive sleep apnea is granted. For the period from September 30, 2010 to February 8, 2016, his headaches are rated at 30 percent. Beginning February 9, 2017, he is entitled to a higher rating for his headaches.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea was found to be secondary to service-connected PTSD and granted on that basis. For the period prior to February 9, 2017, the Veteran's headaches were rated at 30 percent as they met criteria for characteristic prostrating attacks occurring once a month over several months.
- Claimed conditions
- obstructive sleep apnea, headaches
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- December 17, 2019
- Citation
- 19194447
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 19194447.
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.
- 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).
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the issue of entitlement to service connection for obstructive sleep apnea due to a duty to assist error.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for headaches and increased ratings for left shoulder rotator cuff tear, right shoulder rotator cuff tear, hypertension, and left and right leg restless leg syndrome. The Board denied a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder.
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