The Veteran's service connection for obstructive sleep apnea secondary to PTSD is granted.,Service connection for sciatica of the left lower extremity and sciatica of the right lower extremity, both secondary to a service-connected lower back disability, are also granted.,An effective date earlier than August 30, 2017 for the award of an increased 40 percent rating for his lower back disability is denied.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea was found to be aggravated by his service-connected PTSD.,The Veteran has been diagnosed with sciatica in both lower extremities, which is associated with his service-connected lower back disability.,There is no evidence of an increase in the Veteran’s lower back disability prior to August 30, 2017.
- Claimed conditions
- Obstructive sleep apnea, Sciatica (claimed as radiculopathy) of the left lower extremity, Sciatica (claimed as radiculopathy) of the right lower extremity
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- January 16, 2020
- Citation
- 20003640
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.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, chronic rhinitis, and obstructive sleep apnea. The headache claim was remanded for further examination.
- Partly granted
The appeal was denied for service connection of a cervical spine disorder, and several claims were remanded for further development.
- Granted
The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation (SMC) at the R(1) rate due to his need for regular aid and attendance.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for lumbar spine disability, as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected left foot crush injury, and sciatic radiculopathy of both lower extremities, also secondary to the newly service-connected lumbar spine disability. The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for depressive disorder with unspecified anxiety disorder and a compensable rating for allergic rhinitis.
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