Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is granted as secondary to service-connected ischemic heart disease and major depressive disorder.,Hypertension is presumed due to herbicide exposure under the PACT Act, effective August 10, 2022.,An earlier effective date of March 23, 2018, for major depressive disorder is denied as there was no prior claim.,The disability rating for bilateral hearing loss is restored to 30 percent effective April 24, 2018.,A temporary total disability rating (100%) for ischemic heart disease following bypass surgery on April 6, 2020, is granted.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea was caused by his service-connected ischemic heart disease and major depressive disorder.,Hypertension is presumed to be caused by herbicide exposure under the PACT Act.,There was no prior claim for major depressive disorder before March 23, 2018.,The reduction in the disability rating for bilateral hearing loss was improper as the underlying examination was inadequate.,The Veteran's ischemic heart disease resulted in surgery necessitating at least one month of convalescence.
- Claimed conditions
- obstructive sleep apnea, hypertension, major depressive disorder
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 1, 2022
- Citation
- 22066995
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 22066995.
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
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- Denied
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- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, is being remanded due to the need for additional development regarding his alleged stressors.
- 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.
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