Sleep apnea decisions — 2025

The Board remands the claim for service connection for sleep apnea to obtain an addendum opinion addressing whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is related to his active duty service or his service-connected conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on a need for aid and attendance, as her service-connected disabilities did not necessitate regular assistance from another person. The claim for housebound criteria was dismissed as it had already been granted in a previous decision.

The Board denied service connection for hearing loss, a left elbow disability (claimed as osteoarthritis), and a higher rating for lumbosacral strain.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea as it is not related to an in-service injury, event, or disease and is more likely due to the Veteran's weight.

The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder with anxious distress, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board remands the Veteran's increased rating claim for his lumbar spine disability due to an inadequate VA examination.

The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), to include as secondary to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), based on a medical opinion that the Veteran's OSA was more likely than not caused or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD.

The Board granted service connection for lumbosacral spondylosis with degenerative disc disease and bilateral lower extremity lumbar radiculopathy, finding a nexus to the Veteran's military service.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus but denied service connection for hypertension and obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board dismissed the appeal for restoration of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as moot, since the issue was already resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Board remands the case to obtain a new medical opinion on the etiology of obstructive sleep apnea, considering service treatment records and potential toxic exposure during service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for initial compensable ratings for bilateral cataracts with visual disturbance and bilateral pinguecula, as well as service connection for lumbosacral strain, right knee strain, and right shoulder impingement syndrome.

The Board granted a 40 percent evaluation for the Veteran's lumbosacral strain with spinal stenosis, spondylolisthesis, and intervertebral disc syndrome, as well as radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities.

The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board granted reconsideration of the issues of entitlement to service connection for basal cell carcinoma, an acquired psychiatric disorder, and bilateral upper and lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy. The claims for these conditions were previously denied but are now being readjudicated due to new evidence.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of March 22, 2023, for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and an acquired psychiatric condition.

The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for service-connected obstructive sleep apnea and granted service connection for lumbar discogenic pain with right radiculopathy, left thumb injury residuals, bilateral hand tremors, chronic rhinitis (presumptively), and chronic sinusitis.,The Veteran's lumbar discogenic pain with right radiculopathy is related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.

The appeal for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) was dismissed due to a violation of the prohibition on concurrent elections.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, low back disability, and associated nerve pain due to a pre-decisional error in failing to adequately address lay statements regarding the onset of symptoms.

The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected allergic rhinitis and recurrent sinusitis, resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.