Sleep apnea decisions — 2025

The Board granted readjudication of the claims for service connection for psychiatric disability, lumbosacral spine disability, gastrointestinal disability, bilateral wrist disability, and bilateral eye conditions based on new evidence being presented.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, except for obstructive sleep apnea which was granted, and granted a total disability rating for compensation purposes due to individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include major depressive disorder with psychotic features and insomnia disorder, as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected tinnitus but denied increased ratings for rhinitis and chronic sphenoid sinusitis and service connection for obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea and other skin conditions, as well as earlier effective dates for the award of service connection and increased ratings for idiopathic rash and associated scarring, and bilateral knee disabilities.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) to ensure a complete record is available and an adequate medical examination is conducted.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea and denied increased ratings for right femur limitation of flexion, right femur limitation of extension, and right knee disability. However, the Board granted a 10 percent rating for right femur limitation of rotation, a 10 percent rating for scar based on characteristics disfigurement (right upper eyelid), and a 10 percent rating for painful scar on the right upper eyelid.

The Board remands the claim for an addendum medical opinion to address the nature and etiology of the claimed obstructive sleep apnea, including its potential relationship to service and secondary service connection.

The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that the evidence was in approximate balance and that the Veteran's OSA began during his active service.

The Board granted service connection for lumbosacral strain, right knee disability manifested by pain, and left knee disability manifested by pain. The claim for an earlier effective date was denied.

The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to the service-connected major depressive disorder and PTSD.

The Board denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), finding that the evidence does not support a link between OSA and either in-service injury, obesity, or any service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea on the basis that obesity is an intermediate step between his service-connected disabilities and sleep apnea.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a heart disorder, stroke residuals, sleep apnea, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) to obtain additional medical opinions.

The Board granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) but denied service connection for tuberculosis and an increased rating for lumbosacral strain.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea to obtain an addendum opinion addressing whether the Veteran's OSA was aggravated by his service-connected disabilities.

The Board remands the issue of entitlement to service connection for obstructive sleep apnea due to a lack of substantial compliance with prior remand directives.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected PTSD or diabetes mellitus, type II.

The Board remands the issues of entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea and increased rating for PTSD for additional development.

The Board granted service connection for chronic urinary incontinence, finding that the Veteran's symptoms likely began during her active duty and have persisted since then.

The Board denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding no causal relationship between the Veteran's sleep apnea and his service-connected coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus type II, or atrial fibrillation.