Sleep apnea decisions — 2025

The Board granted service connection for sleep apnea and dismissed the claim for tinnitus as moot, while denying increased ratings for lower extremity radiculopathy and remanding several back and limb conditions for further evaluation.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and granted special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance.

The Board granted service connection for PTSD and denied increased ratings for multiple conditions, including left ear hearing loss, cervical spine arthritis with degenerative disc disease, thoracolumbar spine strain with degenerative arthritis, right lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, and left lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve. The Board also remanded service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and right ear hearing loss.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates, a TDIU, and increased ratings for obstructive sleep apnea and PTSD with neurocognitive impairment. The claim for service connection for hypertension was granted under the PACT Act.

The Board granted an effective date of July 13, 2020, for a 70 percent evaluation for PTSD but denied service connection for cervical strain, lumbosacral strain, right knee condition, and tinnitus.

The Board denied service connection for several conditions, including an acquired psychiatric disability, hypertension, IBS, right ankle and left ankle disabilities, a right hip disability, and a low back disability. However, the Board granted service connection for erectile dysfunction, sleep apnea, right knee strain, and left knee strain, as well as a 10% rating for left hip plasmacytoma limitation of extension.

The Board granted a 70 percent disability rating for unspecified anxiety and depressive disorder from November 9, 2023, but remanded the issues of a higher rating for post-concussive headaches and service connection for obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and dismissed the appeals for other conditions including right shoulder disability, right ear hearing loss, left upper molar problem in service cracked root, right foot condition (claimed as inflammation to bilateral feet), left foot condition (claimed as inflammation to bilateral feet), right elbow problem with inflammation, sleep apnea, erectile dysfunction secondary to PTSD, and initial compensable rating for left ear hearing loss.

The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for right sciatic radiculopathy and weakness of the right leg, but granted a TDIU from August 20, 2021, to June 7, 2022.

The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disability, with obesity as an intermediate step.

The Board granted service connection for lumbosacral strain and an initial disability rating of 20 percent, but no higher, for the entire period on appeal, for right ankle tendonitis.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for lumbosacral strain, finding no evidence of an in-service injury or illness and noting that a January 2024 VA examination indicated that the condition was less likely than not related to the veteran's active-duty service.

The Board granted a 70 percent disability rating for PTSD, but not higher. The claims for service connection for OSA and greater than 30 percent rating for post-concussive headaches were remanded.

The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's condition had its onset during his active-duty service.

The Board granted service connection for sleep apnea and a psychiatric disability, and assigned initial ratings of 70 percent and 30 percent respectively. The claims for earlier effective dates were denied.

The Board granted service connection for sleep apnea and a 30 percent rating for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) effective May 19, 2024. The claim for erectile dysfunction was denied.

The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's degenerative joint disease, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder, based on a medical opinion that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is aggravated by his PTSD.

The Board granted a 50 percent rating for the Veteran's back disability and restored the 40 percent rating, effective February 1, 2025. The Board also granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding the evidence to be at least approximately balanced as to whether the condition had its onset in service.