The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) secondary to his service-connected mental health disability, with obesity as an intermediate step. The decision is based on evidence that suggests the Veteran's OSA was caused by his service-connected mental health disability and obesity.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the evidence was approximately evenly balanced as to whether the Veteran's service-connected mental health disability caused or aggravated his obesity, which in turn caused his obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
- Claimed conditions
- Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), Major Depressive Disorder with Anxious Distress, Unspecified Trauma and Stressor-Related Disorder
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 100%
- Decision date
- February 12, 2026
- Citation
- A26013118
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 A26013118.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
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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