Sleep apnea decisions — 2025

The Board remands the claim for service connection of sleep apnea to obtain a more detailed medical opinion regarding its relationship with the Veteran's service-connected PTSD.

The Board granted earlier effective dates and initial ratings for muscle tension headaches, sleep apnea, and unspecified depressive disorder with anxious distress, but denied a higher rating for sleep apnea and an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for unspecified depressive disorder with anxious distress. The Board also granted an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss and denied a higher rating.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the initial ratings of various conditions and denied increased ratings, except for a 30 percent rating for Crohn's disease starting January 13, 2022.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of January 24, 2012, for the grant of service connection for PTSD and a higher initial rating of 70 percent for the Veteran's mental health disability (to include depressive disorder and PTSD), but denied other claims including TDIU, SMC, and higher ratings for migraine headaches and sleep apnea.

The Board denied service connection for a heart disorder, diabetes mellitus, and sleep apnea as the evidence did not support a diagnosis of these conditions during or near to the period on appeal.

The Board denied ratings in excess of the current assigned ratings for left shoulder strain, lumbosacral strain, and right wrist disorder. However, a 70 percent rating was granted for residuals of traumatic brain injury (TBI).

The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected allergic rhinitis.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and a 30 percent rating for posttraumatic headaches as residuals of traumatic brain injury, while remanding several other claims for further development.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased rating and service connection, as well as earlier effective dates for various conditions.

The Board denied service connection for hearing loss and insomnia, granted service connection for tinnitus, and remanded claims for further development.

The Board granted service connection for lumbosacral strain, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to an in-service injury.

The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that it is at least as likely as not due to the Veteran's service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection for erectile dysfunction, headaches, vertigo, tinnitus, sleep apnea, and allergic rhinitis. The appeal of the severance of service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was also dismissed as untimely.

The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected unspecified trauma and stressor-related disorder.

The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and a rating of 20 percent, but no higher, for hypertension.

The Board granted service connection for neck strain and denied service connection for fatigue. The claims for sleep apnea, acute intermittent tension headaches, right hip disability, and left hip disability were remanded.

The Board remands the claims for service connection due to inadequate opinions addressing in-service exposure to lead, asbestos, microwave, and radiofrequency.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea to obtain additional evidence and a new medical opinion.

The Board remands the claim for service connection of obstructive sleep apnea to obtain an adequate VA medical opinion addressing whether the Veteran's sleep apnea has been aggravated by his hypertension.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea to provide the Veteran with notice of his right to a hearing and to obtain an adequate medical opinion.