Sleep apnea decisions — 2025

The Board denied service connection for allergic rhinitis and chronic fatigue syndrome, granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and denied service connection for central pain syndrome. The Board also remanded claims for diabetes mellitus type II and hypertension, both to include as secondary to OSA.

The Board granted service connection for lumbosacral strain, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board granted service connection for lumbosacral strain, cervical strain, right lower extremity radiculopathy as secondary to the lumbosacral strain, and left lower extremity radiculopathy as secondary to the lumbosacral strain.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea as there is no evidence connecting the current diagnosis to the Veteran's military service.

The Board granted a 40 percent rating for lumbosacral strain and a 20 percent rating for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, effective January 29, 2024 to June 2, 2025.

The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that it was caused by the Veteran's service-connected tinnitus.

The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, a headache disorder, and erectile dysfunction, all secondary to the Veteran's newly service-connected acquired psychiatric disability.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for lumbosacral strain and thoracic spine strain as an adequate medical nexus opinion is not available.

The Board remands the claim for service connection of obstructive sleep apnea to correct a duty to assist error related to proper notice and scheduling of diagnostic testing.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date of June 7, 2023, for entitlement to service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and right ankle arthritis.

The Board remands the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea for a VA examination to determine its nature and etiology.

The Board granted service connection for erectile dysfunction and special monthly compensation for loss of use of a creative organ, but remanded the claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, denied an initial evaluation in excess of 50 percent for sleep apnea, and denied a compensable evaluation for a left knee scar. The claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, cluster headaches, and increased ratings for the left knee, back, GERD, and TDIU were remanded.

The Board granted service connection for sleep apnea, left shoulder bicipital tendon tear, hypogonadism, erectile dysfunction, and left carpal tunnel syndrome. The claims for increased ratings for lumbar spondylosis with facet arthropathy and lumbosacral strain, right hip strain with osteoarthritis, other specified trauma and stressor related disorder, left and right ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain, right shoulder rotator cuff tear, left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome (to include iliotibial band syndrome), and chronic right wrist sprain were denied. The Board also granted an effective date of July 7, 2023 for the award of increased ratings.

The Board granted the appeal and restored service connection for GERD with cirrhosis of the liver, cholelithiasis with chronic cholecystitis, and surgical and painful right subcostal scars, s/p cholecystectomy. The claim for readjudication of PTSD was also granted, while other claims were denied.

The Board granted service connection for lumbosacral strain, cervical strain, left shoulder strain, and right shoulder strain.

The Board denied service connection for left knee, right knee, and lumbosacral spine conditions but granted service connection for right hip and left hip osteoarthritis as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right anterior superior iliac spine avulsion fracture.

The Board denied increased ratings for bilateral vertical taluses and dismissed appeals for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, tinnitus, and major depressive disorder with anxiety disorder due to untimely notice of disagreement.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and erectile dysfunction as secondary to other service-connected conditions due to a need for additional medical evidence.

The Board remands the issues of entitlement to a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for patellofemoral pain syndrome and knee strain with knee joint osteoarthritis of the right knee, and intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS), degenerative disc disease (DDD), and lumbosacral strain due to errors in the duty to assist.