The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for additional medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected bilateral knee, shoulder, and hip disabilities contributed to his weight gain/obesity, which then led to his obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
The deciding factor: The VA examiners did not provide reasoned opinions on whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities caused or aggravated his obesity, leading to his OSA.
- Claimed conditions
- Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), Bilateral Knee, Bilateral Shoulder, Right Hip
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 5, 2024
- Citation
- A24080752
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 A24080752.
What this means for you
A remand is not a loss. The Board sent the case back for more development — often a new exam or missing records — before making a final decision. Many remands later end in a grant, and the decision spells out exactly what the Board wanted to see.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, left knee disability, and right knee disability. The claims for urinary frequency disability and residuals of a cholecystectomy were denied.
- Partly granted
The Board denied an initial increased rating for diabetes mellitus type II and remanded the claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, right shoulder strain with acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis and tendinitis, cervical spine spondylosis, left knee degenerative arthritis, right knee degenerative arthritis, and thoracolumbar scoliosis and lumbar spine degenerative changes.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection of obstructive sleep apnea as it requires further development and evidence.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for OSA secondary to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD, but denied service connection for BPPV and hypotension, to include as secondary to service-connected PTSD.
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