The Veteran's sleep apnea is granted service connection. An increased rating of 50 percent for chronic headache disorder is granted effective January 31, 2018. The Veteran's discoid lupus erythematosis and scarring alopecia are each granted an increased rating since specific dates. TDIU due to service-connected disabilities is also granted.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the Veteran’s sleep apnea had its clinical onset during active duty service and has continued since then, granting service connection for it. For his chronic headache disorder, the Board determined that he experienced very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic adaptability since January 31, 2018, warranting a 50% rating. The Veteran's discoid lupus erythematosis was rated based on its severity from August 15, 2018 to May 21, 2019 and since May 22, 2019, with the latter requiring an increased rating of 60%. For his scarring alopecia (scar scalp), a 50% rating was granted effective July 2, 2020. The Board also found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities precluded him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, granting TDIU.
- Claimed conditions
- sleep apnea, chronic headache disorder, discoid lupus erythematosis, scarring alopecia (scar scalp)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 50%
- Decision date
- October 15, 2020
- Citation
- 20067068
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,934 · Granted: 41% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 20067068.
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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