The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea as it was not etiologically related to the Veteran's active service, including exposure to asbestos during service. The service-connected panic disorder, bilateral knee disabilities, and lumbosacral strain did not cause or worsen the Veteran's obesity, which in turn did not proximately cause or worsen the sleep apnea.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the persuasive weight of the evidence was against a finding that the service-connected panic disorder, bilateral knee disabilities, and lumbosacral strain caused or aggravated the Veteran's obesity, nor did they cause or aggravate the sleep apnea. The examiner opined that the sleep apnea was less likely than not related to the service-connected conditions.
- Claimed conditions
- sleep apnea
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 4, 2025
- Citation
- A25095855
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