Sleep apnea decisions — 2025

The Board remands the claims for service connection for asthma, bronchitis, obstructive sleep apnea, rhinitis, and sinusitis due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Board remands the claim for service connection of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) to include as secondary to hypertension, due to duty-to-assist errors in obtaining a sufficient medical opinion and an initial TERA opinion.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a respiratory disability other than obstructive sleep apnea, migraines, and a skin disability to obtain outstanding Department of Defense medical treatment records.

The appeal for service connection for TBI was withdrawn by the Veteran, and the claims for service connection for psychiatric disorder and OSA were remanded.

The Board remands the claim for a higher rating for intervertebral disc syndrome with lumbosacral strain to ensure compliance with VA's duty to assist by scheduling a new examination.

The Board remands the claim for a new VA medical opinion to clarify whether sleep apnea was caused or aggravated by toxic exposure risk activities in service, weight gain, and the Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder with anxious distress and mild alcohol use disorder.

The Board granted an August 10, 2022 effective date for the grant of service connection for hypothyroidism and denied increased ratings for tinnitus and a nonpainful and stable scar on the lumbar midline. Other claims were remanded.

The Board granted an effective date of January 8, 2019, for the award of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea.

The appeal for additional dependency compensation based on the May 13, 2021 Rating Decision's implementation of the Board decision was denied. However, recognition of M., L., and E. as dependents for purposes of additional dependency compensation was granted.

The appeal is dismissed as the issue of service connection for pseudofolliculitis has not been properly adjudicated, and the Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board remands the issue of entitlement to service connection for obstructive sleep apnea because the AOJ failed in its statutory duty to assist when it provided an incomplete/insufficient VA medical opinion prior to the decision on appeal.

The Board granted service connection for sleep apnea, finding it to be secondary to the Veteran's service-connected unspecified depressive disorder.

The Board granted service connection for sleep apnea, finding it at least as likely as not that the condition began during or was caused by the Veteran's military service.

The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and a bilateral ankle disability, but remanded the claims for bronchitis, pneumonia, GERD, type 2 diabetes mellitus, diabetic neuropathy of both upper extremities, and TMJ disorder.

The veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection and increased rating claims, thus the Board has no jurisdiction to review these issues.

The Board dismissed the claim for entitlement to a TDIU due to a single service-connected disability as it has been granted and rendered moot.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for TDIU, DEA eligibility, and an increased rating for sleep apnea.

The Board denied service connection for multiple conditions, including a right hip condition, restless sleep, sleep apnea, and low back condition, as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred in or caused by active military service.

The veteran withdrew the appeal, and all claims were dismissed.

The Board granted service connection for lumbosacral strain, finding that the Veteran's current condition is directly related to her military service.