The Veteran's service connection for OSA as secondary to his service-connected psychiatric disorder is granted. The appeal seeking restoration of a 20% rating for lumbar spine disorder, effective May 1, 2018, is also granted.
The deciding factor: Both the December 2021 and January 2022 VA examiners provided opinions supporting service connection for OSA as secondary to his service-connected psychiatric disorder. The reduction from 20% to 10% rating was improper due to lack of full examination, leading to a reexamination.
- Claimed conditions
- Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Lumbosacral Strain with Degenerative Arthritis of the Spine and Intervertebral Disc Syndrome
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- April 28, 2023
- Citation
- 23024663
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 23024663.
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.
- 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.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected other specified insomnia disorder.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and heart disability, including coronary artery disease, as these conditions are found to be proximately due to or the result of the Veteran's service-connected PTSD.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Neck Disability, and Bilateral Upper Extremity Radiculopathy. The decision is based on the Veteran's active service and medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.
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