The Veteran's thoracolumbar disability, rated at 20 percent since November 2011, is restored to a rating of 20 percent effective September 26, 2024.,Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and bronchiectasis are granted.
The deciding factor: The evidence does not clearly demonstrate sustained improvement in function that would be maintained under the conditions of ordinary life. The Veteran's thoracolumbar disability was rated at 20 percent from November 2011 until the September 2024 reduction, and this period is more than five years.,Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is granted as there is conflicting evidence indicating a relationship between the Veteran's current disability and active-duty service.
- Claimed conditions
- Thoracolumbar residuals of osteoporosis with vertebral fracture status post kyphoplasty and degenerative arthritis (thoracolumbar disability), Obstructive sleep apnea, Bronchiectasis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- April 14, 2026
- Citation
- A26034449
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 A26034449.
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 for service connection due to a duty to assist error, specifically regarding whether the Veteran's current conditions are aggravated by his service-connected DDD of the lumbosacral spine. The AOJ is required to obtain new medical opinions addressing this issue.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for initial compensable ratings for obstructive sleep apnea and headaches, finding that the evidence does not support a finding of persistent daytime hypersomnolence or other manifestations consistent with a compensable disability rating under the criteria established by Diagnostic Codes. The matter is remanded to obtain additional information from the Veteran regarding his headaches and their impact on his daily life.
- Granted
The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection of obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected residuals of left foot 5th metatarsal fracture.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of obstructive sleep apnea has been granted, with the effective date set at June 25, 2019.
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