The Veteran's application to reopen the claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II was denied. The application to reopen the claim for sleep apnea was granted. Service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to lumbar strain with degenerative changes and intervertebral disc disease at L4-L5 is granted. A rating in excess of 40 percent for service-connected lumbar strain is remanded, and a right shoulder disability is also remanded.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's sleep apnea was proximately due to his service-connected lumbar strain with degenerative changes and intervertebral disc disease at L4-L5.
- Claimed conditions
- diabetes mellitus, type II, sleep apnea
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- February 13, 2020
- Citation
- 20011728
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 20011728.
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 the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, finding that there was no evidence of a chronic disease manifesting within one year after service and concluding that the current disability is not related to his in-service deviated septum.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case for additional development regarding the Veteran's claim of service connection for sleep apnea. The Veteran will be provided with a VA examination to determine if his current sleep disorder is related to his military service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the issue of service connection for sleep apnea due to insufficient medical opinions and need for further development.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the claims for sleep apnea and an increased disability rating for diabetes mellitus, type II.
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