Sleep apnea decisions — 2025

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), finding no evidence linking the condition to his military service, including any exposure to toxins during the Persian Gulf War.

The Board remands the case to provide an adequate VA medical opinion on whether the Veteran's sleep apnea was caused or aggravated by service or a service-connected disability.

The Board granted service connection for several conditions, including peripheral neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities, respiratory disorder with dyspnea, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), abdominal pain syndrome (APS), restless leg syndrome (RLS), chronic headaches, left knee strain, right knee strain, lumbosacral strain, and disability manifested by right shoulder pain. The Board also granted increased ratings for peripheral neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities to 40 percent.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is granted as it is caused by his obesity, which was in turn caused by his service-connected sinusitis, rhinitis, and lumbosacral strain.

The Board granted service connection for sleep apnea, finding that it is etiologically related to the Veteran's service-connected cardiac disability.

The Board granted service connection for a bilateral foot disability, to include pes planus, plantar fasciitis, and hallux valgus, and an initial 70 percent rating for PTSD. It also granted earlier effective dates for the assignment of ratings for lumbosacral strain, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for sleep apnea and vertigo as additional development is necessary to cure pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Board remands the claim for a secondary service connection opinion in accordance with the holding in Spicer v. McDonough, 61 F.4th 1360 (Fed. Cir. 2023).

The appeal for increased ratings and earlier effective dates for various conditions, including radiculopathy of the right upper extremity, left lower extremity (femoral nerve), obstructive sleep apnea, sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, and migraine headaches, was dismissed. The Board also remanded claims for initial disability ratings.

The Board granted an effective date of June 9, 2022, for the award of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and DEA benefits.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD; hypertension; OSA; and erectile dysfunction, to include as secondary to an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, for further development.

The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor.

The Board remands the claims for a kidney disability and obstructive sleep apnea to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Board denied service connection for left ankle degenerative joint disease, right ankle degenerative joint disease, and lumbosacral strain as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions began during active service or are otherwise related to an in-service injury.

The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and an acquired psychiatric disorder, variously diagnosed as PTSD and major depressive disorder. The claims for chronic diarrhea were remanded.

The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected unspecified anxiety disorder, tinnitus, and rhinitis.

The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that the condition had its onset during military service and has persisted since then.

The Board granted service connection for a respiratory disability (other than sleep apnea) and an acquired psychiatric disability, both related to the appellant's active duty for training.

All appeals for higher ratings, decreased ratings, and service connection claims have been dismissed as the Veteran has already appealed these issues to the Board.

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