The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability caused him to become obese, which was a substantial factor in causing his sleep apnea. The decision also concludes that obesity would not have occurred but for the lumbar spine disability.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the August 2024 opinion of L.B., PA-C, established that the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability caused him to become obese and that this obesity was a substantial factor in causing his sleep apnea. The decision also concluded that obesity would not have occurred but for the lumbar spine disability.
- Claimed conditions
- Obstructive sleep apnea, Degenerative arthritis of the lumbosacral spine with intervertebral disc syndrome and spinal stenosis
- How they argued it
- Aggravation of a pre-existing condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 10, 2024
- Citation
- 24034042
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 24034042.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to a duty to assist error, specifically regarding whether the Veteran's current conditions are aggravated by his service-connected DDD of the lumbosacral spine. The AOJ is required to obtain new medical opinions addressing this issue.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for initial compensable ratings for obstructive sleep apnea and headaches, finding that the evidence does not support a finding of persistent daytime hypersomnolence or other manifestations consistent with a compensable disability rating under the criteria established by Diagnostic Codes. The matter is remanded to obtain additional information from the Veteran regarding his headaches and their impact on his daily life.
- Granted
The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection of obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected residuals of left foot 5th metatarsal fracture.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of obstructive sleep apnea has been granted, with the effective date set at June 25, 2019.
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