The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that it is secondary to his service-connected generalized anxiety disorder with symptoms of depression and obesity as an intermediate step. The decision resolves reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the Veteran's obesity was caused or aggravated by his service-connected psychiatric disability (generalized anxiety disorder), which led to a substantial factor in causing his obstructive sleep apnea, and would not have been diagnosed but for his obesity.
- Claimed conditions
- Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Obesity
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 27, 2024
- Citation
- 24009323
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 24009323.
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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