Sleep apnea decisions — 2025

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, a higher rating for PTSD, and the reduction in rating for lumbosacral strain. The claims for service connection for GERD, erectile dysfunction, headaches, and higher ratings for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy were remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a combined rating of 100 percent for his service-connected disabilities from June 18, 2014, to August 23, 2021.

The Board granted service connection for chronic rhinitis and an earlier effective date of January 29, 2021, for right foot degenerative changes but denied increased ratings for asthma, temporomandibular disorder, left knee disability, and a compensable initial rating for the right foot.

The Board granted a 20 percent disability rating for the veteran's back disability, service connection for left leg radiculopathy as secondary to the back disability, and a 10 percent disability rating for recurrent acute sinusitis.

The Board grants service connection for various disabilities, including degenerative arthritis and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, cervical arthritis and intervertebral disc syndrome, posterior neck scar, neurological impairments of all extremities, hypopharyngeal mucosa laceration with residual dysphagia and esophagus dysfunction, neurogenic bowel dysfunction, neurogenic bladder dysfunction, and erectile dysfunction, as secondary to service-connected spinal disabilities.

The Board granted service connection for erectile dysfunction (ED) as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected pituitary mass, but denied increased ratings for chronic sinusitis, deviated nasal septum with rhinitis, chronic pharyngitis with a history of strep throat and rhinitis, pituitary mass with migraine headaches, hypertension, hypothyroidism, lumbosacral strain with intervertebral disc syndrome and degenerative disc disease, left lower extremity radiculopathy of the femoral nerve, and left lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve.

The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that it is secondary to the Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disorders.

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

The Board remands the claim for service connection of obstructive sleep apnea to correct a duty to assist error that occurred prior to the April 2024 rating decision on appeal.

The Board denied service connection for a right hamstring tear and pain, while remanding the claims for obstructive sleep apnea and sinusitis due to missing nexus opinions.

The Board denied service connection for various claimed disabilities, including right and left knee replacements, ankle sprains, neck strain, lumbosacral strain, rotator cuff tear, shoulder dislocation, and sleep apnea, as the evidence did not support a finding of a nexus between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.

The appeal was dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board denied an effective date prior to December 12, 2023, for the award of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for an initial compensable rating for moderate obstructive sleep apnea with shortness of breath.

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

The appeal for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea was dismissed as the Veteran unambiguously withdrew his appeal via a written statement.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities prior to May 5, 2009.

The Board remands the issues of entitlement to increased ratings for lumbosacral strain and sciatic nerve radiculopathy due to a failure to substantially comply with previous remand directives.

The Board remands the claim for service connection of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as secondary to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) due to an inadequate medical opinion.

The Board denied service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and obstructive sleep apnea as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to the Veteran's military service or caused by a service-connected disability.