The Veteran's lumbar strain with degenerative disc disease and degenerative facet disease was granted an effective date of October 16, 2014.,Separate 10 percent ratings for right knee instability were granted from October 16, 2014.,Separate 10 percent ratings for left knee instability were granted from October 16, 2014.,A 50 percent rating for sleep apnea was granted effective January 12, 2014.
The deciding factor: The Board found the evidence to be in approximate balance and granted the Veteran's claims based on the benefit of doubt.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar strain, right knee instability, left knee instability, sleep apnea
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- March 16, 2026
- Citation
- A26023243
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 A26023243.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, finding that there was no evidence of a chronic disease manifesting within one year after service and concluding that the current disability is not related to his in-service deviated septum.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case for additional development regarding the Veteran's claim of service connection for sleep apnea. The Veteran will be provided with a VA examination to determine if his current sleep disorder is related to his military service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the issue of service connection for sleep apnea due to insufficient medical opinions and need for further development.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the claims for sleep apnea and an increased disability rating for diabetes mellitus, type II.
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