The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is granted as service-connected.,For the period prior to January 2021, a higher rating for left knee flexion disability was denied. For the period from January 2021 onwards, a higher rating for left knee extension disability was also denied. A separate rating of 20 percent for recurrent subluxation or lateral instability was granted from December 2019. The Veteran's left knee scar is not compensable.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner found the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea to be related to service, resolving doubt in favor of the Veteran.,VA examinations indicated worsening symptoms and functional loss for the left knee over time, but no evidence of arthritis or instability that would warrant a higher rating.
- Claimed conditions
- Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Left Knee Disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- December 21, 2021
- Citation
- 21075865
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 21075865.
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 Veteran's service-connected knee disabilities are rated at 10% each, and the Board finds that higher ratings are not warranted based on the evidence of record.
- Denied
The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities are not related to his active service, and thus denied both claims for service connection.
- Denied
The Veteran's left knee disability is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board finds no evidence of clear and unmistakable error in assigning an effective date of June 19, 2002.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected left knee and left ankle conditions.
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