The Veteran's claims for an effective date prior to December 4, 2015, for service connection of obstructive sleep apnea and a compensable evaluation for hypertension are denied.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for obstructive sleep apnea is denied as the evidence does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 6847.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for diabetes mellitus, right upper extremity diabetic neuropathy (all radicular groups), left upper extremity diabetic neuropathy (all radicular groups), right lower extremity diabetic neuropathy (sciatic nerve), and left lower extremity diabetic neuropathy (sciatic nerve) is denied as the evidence does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under Diagnostic Codes 8513, 8513, 8520, or 8520.
The deciding factor: The effective date of service connection and initial rating decisions were based on the Veteran's request to reopen his previously denied claim for obstructive sleep apnea filed on December 4, 2015. The evidence does not support an earlier effective date.,The Veteran's hypertension is currently rated as noncompensable under Diagnostic Code 7101 and there is no evidence of diastolic pressure predominantly 100 or more or systolic pressure predominantly 160 or more, which would warrant a compensable rating.,The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea does not meet the criteria for a higher rating as he does not have chronic respiratory failure with carbon dioxide retention or cor pulmonale, or requiring tracheostomy. The evidence does not support a 100% rating under Diagnostic Code 6847.,The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, right upper extremity diabetic neuropathy (all radicular groups), left upper extremity diabetic neuropathy (all radicular groups), right lower extremity diabetic neuropathy (sciatic nerve), and left lower extremity diabetic neuropathy (sciatic nerve) do not meet the criteria for a higher rating as they are all rated under Diagnostic Codes 8513, 8513, 8520, or 8520.
- Claimed conditions
- Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Hypertension, Diabetes Mellitus, Right Upper Extremity Diabetic Neuropathy (all radicular groups), Left Upper Extremity Diabetic Neuropathy (all radicular groups), Right Lower Extremity Diabetic Neuropathy (sciatic nerve), Left Lower Extremity Diabetic Neuropathy (sciatic nerve)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 16, 2024
- Citation
- A24047278
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 A24047278.
What this means for you
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Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Board denied the claim of service connection for hypertension, finding that it did not manifest during service and is not causally related to the Veteran's exposure to herbicides or service.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current condition and active duty service or herbicide exposure.
- 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.
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