Sleep apnea decisions — 2025

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an increased rating for status post bunionectomy and hallux rigidus of the left great toe, and remanded several other claims related to various conditions.

The Board denied increased ratings for PTSD with alcohol use disorder and OSA, but granted service connection for chronic right wrist sprain, GERD secondary to PTSD, right sciatic pain secondary to lumbosacral strain, and recurrent bilateral ear infections.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral eye disability, including choroideremia, retinitis pigmentosa, and legal blindness, as it was determined that the condition is a congenital defect not subject to service connection.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral pes planus, but denied service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

The Board denied an initial compensable evaluation for non allergic rhinitis, associated with sleep apnea with CPAP.

The Board remands the matter of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to previously service-connected disabilities for a new VA opinion.

The Board remands the claim for service connection of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as secondary to a duodenal ulcer with hiatal hernia, status post vagotomy, gastrectomy, and gastroduodenal anastomosis with residuals due to an inadequate VA examination.

The Board remands the matter for an appropriate VA examination to assess the Veteran's service-connected back condition, as the previous examinations were found inadequate.

The Board granted service connection for major depressive disorder with anxious distress with psychotic features, secondary to traumatic spondylosis status post L1-S1 laminectomies/fusion and denied an increased rating in excess of 40 percent for the same condition. The claim for obstructive sleep apnea was remanded.

The Board remands the claim for service connection of obstructive sleep apnea to obtain a new VA medical opinion addressing whether the Veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus may have caused or aggravated his obesity, which in turn led to or aggravated his sleep apnea.

The Board denied service connection for a right ear hearing loss disability and chronic fatigue syndrome, granted service connection for a chronic right wrist sprain, and assigned a 10 percent rating for a left knee scar. The remaining issues were remanded.

The Board granted earlier effective dates of September 1, 2022, for the grant of service connection for acne, cervical strain, lumbosacral strain, dry eye syndrome, GERD, and bilateral knee patella alta.

The Board granted a 10 percent rating for the Veteran's right thigh impairment beginning August 8, 2023, but denied service connection for cervical strain, obstructive sleep apnea due to obesity, and other conditions.

The Veteran has withdrawn the appeal for all claims, and the Board lacks jurisdiction to review the appeal.

The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding it to be related to the Veteran's service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder.

The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding the evidence to be in approximate balance as to whether it was caused or aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected PTSD with insomnia disorder and alcohol use disorder.

The Board grants service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected spine, neck and radiculopathy disabilities.

The veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection for sleep apnea and bilateral tinnitus.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for sleep apnea to correct a pre-decisional duty to assist error, specifically regarding secondary service connection due to the Veteran's service-connected hypothyroidism and obesity.

The Board denied service connection for scars of the bilateral hands and arms, denied higher ratings for knee strain, dyspnea, erectile dysfunction, and tinnitus, and remanded several other issues including service connection for headaches disability.