Sleep apnea decisions — 2025

The Board granted service connection for erectile dysfunction, IBS, a left hip disorder, a left shin splint disorder, a left wrist disorder, and sleep apnea. The claims for service connection for a low back disorder, TBI, left hamstring disorder, migraine headache disorder, right hamstring disorder, right hip disorder, right shin splint disorder, and right wrist disorder were denied.

The Board remands the claims for a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for left knee chondromalacia patella with instability, in excess of 10 percent for left knee chondromalacia patella with leg pain, and in excess of 10 percent for lumbar strain (claimed as lower back pain) to ensure that the Veteran is afforded VA examinations that properly assess the current severity of her service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied entitlement to accrued benefits and DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 because the Veteran did not meet the statutory requirements. The Board remanded entitlement to service connection for cause of death and survivor's pension benefits to obtain a medical opinion on whether the Veteran's service-connected PTSD aggravated his sleep apnea.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the claims for OSA, low back disability, acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral plantar fasciitis, left knee pain, right knee pain, posttraumatic residual pain of the cervical and cervicothoracic regions, and radicular pain and paresthesia of the right lower extremity.

The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected left and right ankle disorders.

The Board granted service connection for Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Board granted service connection for arthritis of the bilateral shoulders, neck, and left knee and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) based on evidence that these conditions are related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The appeal for service connection for hypertensive vascular disease was dismissed, while service connection for reactive airway disease (claimed as restrictive lung disease) was granted. The appeals for sleep apnea, left knee disability, and right knee disability were remanded.

The Board granted service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) based on a nexus opinion from a board-certified physician in sleep medicine.

The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) secondary to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor.

The Board remands the claim for service connection of obstructive sleep apnea to obtain an addendum medical opinion.

The Board granted service connection for lumbosacral strain and allergic rhinitis, assigned a 10 percent rating for allergic rhinitis, and denied service connection for the other conditions.

The Veteran's tinea versicolor and pseudofolliculitis were granted a 10 percent rating, while service connection was denied for herpes, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and multiple foot and knee conditions.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent, but no higher, on and after November 19, 2023.

The appeal was dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Board denied service connection for erectile dysfunction, granted a 10 percent rating for the painful right knee scar, and denied increased ratings for adjustment disorder with depressed mood and other conditions.

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

The Board denied service connection for soft tissue sarcoma of the right wrist, to include as due to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune, and an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss. The claims for service connection for prostate cancer and sleep apnea were remanded.

The Board remands the claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for lumbosacral strain with intervertebral disc syndrome due to an inadequate VA examination.

The Board granted service connection for right thigh muscle spasm, left thigh muscle spasm, left calf muscle spasm, and right calf muscle spasm as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected hypertensive heart disease and hypertension. The claims for rectal bleeding and rosacea were remanded for further development.