The Board has granted the Veteran's claim to reopen his service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that new and material evidence supports this claim. The Board also found in favor of the Veteran on his secondary service connection claim for obstructive sleep apnea, attributing it to his service-connected disabilities including depression, knee conditions, and low back strain. However, the Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for prostate cancer, finding that there is no evidence linking this condition to his military service.
The deciding factor: The new medical opinion established a link between the Veteran’s service-connected disabilities (including depression, knee conditions, and low back strain) and his obesity, which in turn caused his obstructive sleep apnea. The Board found this sufficient to grant secondary service connection for obstructive sleep apnea. For prostate cancer, there was no evidence linking it to service.
- Claimed conditions
- obstructive sleep apnea, prostate cancer
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- June 2, 2020
- Citation
- 20037599
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 20037599.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board allowed the benefit or issue identified in this decision. Review the original order: other issues in the same appeal may have a different outcome, and this decision does not predict another claim.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that there is no competent evidence to support a finding that his current condition began in or as a result of service.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board of Veterans' Appeals (BVA) has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as there is no current diagnosis of this condition during the appeal period.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities, and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his active service or any related exposure.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, prostate cancer, visual impairment, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction due to lack of exposure to herbicide agents during service. The Veteran's claims were not granted.
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