The Veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine, right and left lower radiculopathy caused his obesity, which in turn led to obstructive sleep apnea. The Board granted entitlement to service connection for obstructive sleep apnea.
The deciding factor: Obesity was a substantial factor in causing the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea due to his service-connected degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine and right and left lower radiculopathy, which caused him to gain weight.
- Claimed conditions
- Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Somatic Symptom Disorder with Pain, Degenerative Arthritis of Thoracolumbar Spine, Right Lower Radiculopathy, Left Lower Radiculopathy
- How they argued it
- Aggravation of a pre-existing condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- September 18, 2024
- Citation
- A24057855
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 A24057855.
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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