The Veteran's service-connected obstructive sleep apnea is granted as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II. The Veteran's GERD is also granted with an initial rating of 30 percent.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner found that the Veteran's current obesity and resultant obstructive sleep apnea were caused by his well-controlled diabetes, which led to weight gain and subsequent obesity as a substantial factor in causing OSA. The Veteran's GERD symptoms have been characterized as persistently recurrent epigastric distress with dysphagia, pyrosis, and regurgitation, accompanied by substernal pain.
- Claimed conditions
- Obstructive sleep apnea, Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- October 18, 2021
- Citation
- 21064023
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 21064023.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal for service connection for Dupuytren's contracture of the left hand, right hand, and GERD is remanded due to inadequate VA examination opinions and failure to consider toxic exposure risk activities during service.
- Denied
The Veteran's GERD is currently rated at 10 percent disabling, but the Board found that his symptoms do not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), finding that both conditions are secondary to the Veteran's service-connected lower back condition and sinusitis, respectively.
- Denied
The Board has denied service connection for bladder cancer, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) as there is no evidence to support a link between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.
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