Sleep apnea decisions — 2025

The Board denied service connection for a right ankle disability, an upper respiratory condition (including sinusitis and allergic rhinitis), residuals of mandible surgery, and obstructive sleep apnea as the evidence did not support a link to military service.

The Board granted service connection for sleep apnea, as secondary to obesity caused by the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Board granted service connection for lumbosacral strain, finding a nexus between the Veteran's in-service injury and his current diagnosis.

The Board granted service connection for loss of teeth, resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor. The claims for valvular heart disease, obstructive sleep apnea, and benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) were remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for sleep apnea due to an inadequate VA examination and opinion.

The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea on a secondary basis, finding that it is at least as likely as not caused by the Veteran's service-connected PTSD and tinnitus.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for low back condition and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) to provide the Veteran with a thorough medical examination.

The Board granted service connection for PTSD with alcohol use disorder and denied service connection for sleep apnea and a low back condition.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and denied a compensable disability rating for hypertension. Several issues related to increased ratings were remanded.

The Board remands the issue of entitlement to service connection for obstructive sleep apnea due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors and an error by the RO in satisfying a statutory or regulatory duty.

The appeal to revise, based on clear and unmistakable error (CUE), the September 2018 rating decision's denial of entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea was denied.

The appeal for SMC based upon housebound status is dismissed as moot, and the claim for SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance of another person has been denied.

The Board granted service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) with major depressive disorder and obstructive sleep apnea, but denied service connection for positive tuberculosis (TB) skin test, fatigue, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), a right knee disorder, including degenerative arthritis, a left knee disorder, including degenerative arthritis, and bilateral hearing loss. The Board also remanded entitlement to service connection for hypertension, rectal cancer, and a total disability rating based on individual employability.

The veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection and higher ratings, as well as the TDIU claim.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and chronic fatigue syndrome, as there was no evidence of a current disability meeting the regulatory threshold for VA purposes. The claims for lumbosacral strain, left hip strain, right hip strain, left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, and right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome were remanded.

The Board denied service connection for fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome, granted service connection for chronic sinusitis due to toxic exposure during service in Southwest Asia, and remanded several issues including sleep apnea, the character of discharge, and other conditions.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no evidence of a current disability that meets the criteria for compensation purposes. The claim for obstructive sleep apnea was remanded for further development.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for COPD and OSA to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors, including verifying herbicide exposure and obtaining an adequate medical opinion.

The Board granted readjudication of previously denied claims for service connection for right and left shoulder, right and left hip, bilateral hearing loss, gastrointestinal, bilateral kidney, and urinary disorders based on new and relevant evidence. Service connection was also granted for sinusitis with an earlier effective date. The claim for a peripheral vestibular disorder (claimed as vertigo) was denied.

The Board denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding no evidence linking the condition to the Veteran's military service or any service-connected disability.