Sleep apnea decisions — 2025

The Board remands the claims for service connection for sleep apnea and high blood pressure to correct an Agency of Jurisdiction's error regarding notice of the Veteran's right to a pre-decisional hearing.

The Board dismissed all appealed issues, including service connection for OSA, a back disorder, a bilateral eye disorder, and entitlement to higher initial disability rating and TDIU.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as the evidence did not support a link between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.

The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and rhinitis, as well as initial ratings of 10 percent and 20 percent, respectively, for migraines and left hamstring syndrome.

The Board granted service connection for left ear hearing loss and GERD, assigned a rating of 20 percent for the back disability from March 31, 2021, and denied service connection for right ear hearing loss, obstructive sleep apnea, and a higher rating for the right shoulder disability.

The Board remands the claim for service connection of obstructive sleep apnea to correct a pre-decisional duty to assist error and ensure an adequate medical opinion is provided.

The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to posttraumatic stress disorder, finding that the Veteran's obesity was caused by his PTSD and that this obesity led to the development of OSA.

The Board remands the claim for a new medical opinion to address whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is aggravated by his service-connected cervical strain and/or bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy disabilities.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for GERD and sleep apnea to obtain additional medical opinions addressing secondary service connection, including the effects of medication.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's disability had its onset during his period of active service. The other issues were remanded due to deficiencies in the evidence.

The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea secondary to PTSD, resolving doubt in the Veteran's favor.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea as there is no evidence of a link between the condition and the Veteran's active duty service or any service-connected disability.

The Board remands the claim for service connection of obstructive sleep apnea, to include as secondary to service-connected hypertension or tinnitus, due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board granted service connection for degenerative arthritis with lumbosacral strain and denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss. Other claims were remanded.

The Board granted service connection for a headache condition and assigned a 20 percent rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy, while denying increased ratings for the low back condition and left lower extremity radiculopathy. The obstructive sleep apnea and right knee conditions were remanded.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea to obtain a more thorough medical opinion.

The Board remands the claim for a new medical opinion that uses the correct legal standards regarding obesity and its relationship to service-connected disabilities.

The Board remands the issues of entitlement to a rating in excess of 20 percent prior to July 14, 2022, and in excess of 40 percent thereafter for lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease, as well as service connection for right and left foot disabilities due to insufficient evidence.

The Board granted an initial rating of 10 percent for nervus intermedius neuralgia and remanded the claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) as his service-connected disabilities, even when combined, were not of sufficient severity to render him unable to secure or follow substantial gainful employment in the field for which he is educated and experienced.