The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, diabetes mellitus, type II, left eye diabetic retinopathy, left foot diabetic peripheral neuropathy, right foot diabetic peripheral neuropathy, and coronary artery disease, as well as the Veteran's cause of death.
The deciding factor: Service connection was granted based on the intermediate-step theory of entitlement for obstructive sleep apnea and diabetes mellitus, type II, due to obesity related to a service-connected low back disability. The other conditions were directly linked to the service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II.
- Claimed conditions
- obstructive sleep apnea, diabetes mellitus, type II, left eye diabetic retinopathy, left foot diabetic peripheral neuropathy, right foot diabetic peripheral neuropathy, coronary artery disease
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 23, 2025
- Citation
- 25015207
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