The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and right upper extremity ulnar neuropathy, both secondary to the Veteran's service-connected conditions. The claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates for tinnitus were denied.
The deciding factor: The OSA was found to be at least as likely as not proximately due to medications used to treat the Veteran's service-connected MDD, right elbow, and pes planus disabilities. The right upper extremity ulnar neuropathy was also found to be at least as likely as not proximately due to his service-connected right elbow disability.
- Claimed conditions
- tinnitus, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), right upper extremity ulnar neuropathy, right triceps enthesopathy, right elbow limitation of flexion, right elbow limitation of extension, right elbow scar, painful right elbow scar, left elbow disability, back disability, diagnosed as degenerative arthritis of the spine with intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS)
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 24, 2025
- Citation
- A25037554
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the issue of entitlement to service connection for a back disability due to a duty to assist error, specifically regarding VA's failure to provide the Veteran with a VA examination prior to the rating decision.
- Partly granted
The Veteran was granted a 70 percent initial disability rating for PTSD effective December 2, 2021, but the claim for an increased rating in excess of 70 percent was denied. The appeal also included claims for service connection and ratings for various conditions, some of which were granted while others were remanded.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for tinnitus to correct a duty to assist error, as the Veteran's lay statements regarding onset and continuity of symptoms were not adequately considered in the previous 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).
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.