The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea is granted as secondary to his service-connected depressive disorder and other conditions. His claim for an increased rating for depressive disorder is also granted, but the claim for migraine headaches and lumbar spine condition remains pending.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the Veteran's weight gain due to his service-connected mental health condition and musculoskeletal injuries contributed to his development of obstructive sleep apnea. The VA examiner concluded that without this weight gain, the Veteran would not have developed sleep apnea.
- Claimed conditions
- Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Depressive Disorder Due to Chronic Pain Syndrome with Major Depressive Like Episode and Other Specified Sleep-Wake Disorder (also claimed as mental health condition), Migraine Headaches, Lumbar Spine Condition
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 70%
- Decision date
- June 4, 2024
- Citation
- A24028995
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 A24028995.
What this means for you
A partial grant means some issues were granted while others were denied or remanded — common in multi-issue claims. Look at which issues went which way, and how each was argued.
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 Veteran's 50% disability rating for migraine headaches was restored as the evidence did not show actual improvement in his ability to function under ordinary conditions of life and work.
- 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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