The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including obstructive sleep apnea and degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine, have rendered him unemployable since at least 2019. The Board has granted a TDIU effective July 12, 2024.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including obstructive sleep apnea and degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to significant physical limitations that would affect his ability to stand, sit, and walk for prolonged periods.
- Claimed conditions
- obstructive sleep apnea, degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine, degenerative arthritis of the right knee limitation of extension, left knee degenerative arthritis limitation of extension, bilateral tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, right lower extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, right knee instability, left knee instability, high blood pressure, migraine headaches, right knee degenerative arthritis limitation of flexion, left knee degenerative arthritis limitation of flexion
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 90%
- Decision date
- February 24, 2026
- Citation
- A26016671
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 A26016671.
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.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal for service connection of bilateral hearing loss and a ruptured right ear drum was dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.
- Denied
The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was noted upon entry into active duty service and did not increase in severity during service. Therefore, it denied his claim for service connection.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, migraine headaches, and PTSD due to additional development of records and examination.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that there is no competent evidence to support a finding that his current condition began in or as a result of service.
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