The Board denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and granted an initial evaluation of 19 percent, but no higher, for lip strain with scar. The decision also granted a rating in excess of 30 percent disabling for post-traumatic headaches prior to February 21, 2017, and denied a rating in excess of 70 percent disabling for TBI from October 24, 2023.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding that the Veteran's OSA was related to his service or any service-connected condition. The decision granted an initial evaluation based on the severity of the lip strain with scar and denied higher ratings for other conditions due to insufficient evidence supporting such claims.
- Claimed conditions
- obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), lip strain with scar, post-traumatic headaches, traumatic brain injury (TBI) with major depressive disorder (MDD), left hernia repair, left hernia scar
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 22, 2025
- Citation
- 25005382
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,062 · Granted: 34% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 25005382.
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 Veteran's OSA is granted as service connected. The Veteran's infectious disease claim and stomach disability claim are remanded for further examination.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to errors in obtaining relevant medical records and authorization for private treatment providers. The issues include heart disorder, OSA, sinusitis, lumbar spine disorder, and right knee disorder all related to Agent Orange exposure.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) with persistent depressive disorder and insomnia.
- Dismissed
The Board dismissed the appeals regarding service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and gastroesophageal reflux disease due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.
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