Sleep apnea decisions — 2025

The Board remands the issue of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea to correct a duty to assist error, specifically regarding an inadequate medical opinion.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea, erectile dysfunction, an acquired psychiatric disability, a bilateral foot disability, a right knee disability, and a left knee disability. The claim for a compensable rating for allergic rhinitis was also denied.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea as it was not etiologically related to the Veteran's active service, including exposure to asbestos during service. The service-connected panic disorder, bilateral knee disabilities, and lumbosacral strain did not cause or worsen the Veteran's obesity, which in turn did not proximately cause or worsen the sleep apnea.

The Board granted an effective date of March 23, 2011, for the grant of a separate 10 percent rating for left knee meniscal tear with degenerative arthritis, limitation of flexion and from March 23, 2011, for a 10 percent rating for right knee joint osteoarthritis, instability or subluxation. The Board denied ratings in excess of 10 percent for the left and right knees and cervical spine, and granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board remands the claim for service connection of sleep apnea to correct a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that it is proximately due to the Veteran's service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The Board remands the claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, hypertension, diabetes mellitus type II, and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities to obtain additional medical opinions.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea as the evidence does not show a link between the condition and the Veteran's service or any service-connected disability.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and service connection, finding no evidence of a current disability or sufficient basis to establish service connection.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea as the evidence did not support a current diagnosis of the condition.

The Board granted a 40 percent rating for the Veteran's left shoulder disability and a 30 percent rating for the right shoulder disability, effective October 19, 2023.

The Board granted service connection for bulimia nervosa as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD.

The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor based on onset during active-duty service.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to his service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and bilateral plantar fasciitis.

The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and denied service connection for a respiratory condition, claimed as dyspnea. The right shoulder strain and upper extremity peripheral neuropathy claims were remanded.

The Board denied a compensable rating for migraine headaches prior to May 16, 2024, and denied service connection for gastritis. The claims for GERD and sleep apnea were remanded for further development.

The Board granted service connection for various conditions, including obstructive sleep apnea, left hip condition, GERD, irritable bowel syndrome, back condition, right knee condition, left ankle condition, right ankle condition, erectile dysfunction, and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, all secondary to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral foot/toe conditions.

The Board remands the claim for an adequate medical opinion addressing both causation and aggravation of sleep apnea by service-connected tinnitus.

The Board granted an effective date of March 16, 2022 for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA), but denied an earlier effective date prior to July 12, 2024 for a higher 30 percent rating for chronic diarrhea.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for service connection and TDIU, as well as SMC based on housebound criteria.