Sleep apnea decisions — 2025

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and an earlier effective date, as well as remanded several service connection claims.

The Board remands the issue of entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error, requiring a new TERA medical opinion.

The Board granted service connection for asthma and sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's asthma began during active-duty service and has continued to the present, and that his sleep apnea is related to his service-connected asthma.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for complex sleep apnea and paroxysmal atrial fibrillation with bradycardia, both claimed as secondary to service-connected hypertension, due to a lack of adequate medical evidence.

The Board denied increased ratings for multiple service-connected conditions, including tinnitus, GERD with hiatal hernia, major depressive disorder with generalized anxiety disorder, spinal stenosis with lumbosacral strain status post surgery, scars of the back, and radiculopathy in both lower extremities. The Veteran's erectile dysfunction was also denied a compensable rating.

The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as secondary to the service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and an effective date of September 8, 2016, but no earlier, for the grant of service connection for hypertension.

The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include depression with insomnia and PTSD, but denied service connection for hemorrhoids and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

The Board remands the claim for a more thorough medical examination to address the Veteran's sleep apnea, considering both direct service connection and secondary causation by his service-connected allergic rhinitis.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a bilateral kidney disorder, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), sleep apnea, and erectile dysfunction due to additional development needed.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a left-hand, right-hand, low back, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and left ankle disability to ensure that VA's duty to assist is followed.

The Board granted service connection for an adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral degenerative arthritis and disc disease, and also granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as secondary to the same disabilities.

The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding it to be proximately due to the Veteran's service-connected tinnitus and PTSD.

The Board denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that the evidence does not support a direct link to active service or any in-service event.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU, finding that the evidence did not support higher ratings for his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected GERD is granted a disability rating of 60 percent, but no higher. The claims for service connection for hemorrhoids, hypertension, and sleep apnea are remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD was granted an increased initial rating of 70 percent, and TDIU and SMC were also granted from January 26, 2016. Service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, peripheral neuropathy, bilateral upper and lower extremities, prostate disorder, sleep apnea, and Parkinson's-like symptoms was denied.

The Board remands the claim for a new examination to determine if the Veteran's sleep apnea is secondary to her service-connected anxiety disorder.

The Board granted service connection for headaches, sinusitis, and sleep apnea. The remaining claims were remanded.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a compensable initial evaluation for chronic sinusitis, deviated septum, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and remanded the claim for service connection for sleep apnea.