The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that it is aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder with anxious distress.
The deciding factor: The private medical opinions from the Veteran's psychiatrist and physician supported the claim, while the VA examiner's opinion was found to be inadequate. Resolving any reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran, his obstructive sleep apnea is considered aggravated by his service-connected MDD with anxious distress.
- Claimed conditions
- obstructive sleep apnea
- How they argued it
- Aggravation of a pre-existing condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 100%
- Decision date
- April 9, 2025
- Citation
- A25032627
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 granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, effective from the date of the February 2025 rating decision.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew the appeals for service connection for bilateral pes planus, obstructive sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the issue of entitlement to service connection for obstructive sleep apnea due to a duty to assist error.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for various conditions, including GERD, chronic kidney disease, COPD, a heart condition, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, insomnia, and obstructive sleep apnea, as additional development is necessary to address the Veteran's exposure to toxic chemical agents during his service.
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