The Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea was reopened due to new and material evidence. Service connection is granted as secondary to his service-connected anxiety disorder and left shoulder condition (post left acromioplasty with slight separation at acromioclavicular joint).
The deciding factor: The private medical opinion established a link between the Veteran's service-connected conditions and the development of obesity, which was found to be a substantial factor in causing his obstructive sleep apnea.
- Claimed conditions
- Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Anxiety Disorder, Left Shoulder Condition (Post Left Acromioplasty with Slight Separation at Acromioclavicular Joint)
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 2, 2024
- Citation
- 24005467
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 24005467.
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 initial ratings for anxiety disorder and TBI were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.
- 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.
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