The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis arthritis and calluses, right hip femoral acetabular impingement syndrome (limitation of flexion), left hip femoral acetabular impingement syndrome (limitation of flexion), left hip impairment, left hip femoral acetabular impingement syndrome (extension), left knee degenerative arthritis, right hip femoral acetabular impingement syndrome (limitation of extension), right hip impairment, chronic right shoulder degenerative arthritis, and right knee strain, with being obese as an intermediate step.
The deciding factor: The Board found the July 2023 private medical opinion to be probative and persuasive because it is based on accurate medical history, includes a review of the medical record, and provides an explanation that contains clear conclusions with a supporting rationale.
- Claimed conditions
- Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 9, 2025
- Citation
- A25087734
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 916 · Granted: 40% (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 A25087734.
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.
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The Board has remanded the claims of entitlement to service connection for vertigo and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The Veteran's hearing loss is not rated higher than 10 percent.
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The Board has determined that the claims for service connection for OSA and insomnia must be remanded due to inadequate VA examinations and opinions, as well as a failure to obtain TERA opinions on all relevant exposures.
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The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and a separate rating for chronic pulmonary embolism due to inadequate VA examinations.
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The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The Veteran's lay statements and medical records are considered in determining whether there is a nexus between current symptoms and service.
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