Sleep apnea decisions — 2025

The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor and finding that it is at least as likely as not related to an in-service toxic exposure risk activity (TERA).

The Board granted service connection for unspecified trauma and stressor related disorder with alcohol use disorder, moderate, but denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for left foot first metatarsophalangeal joint degenerative arthritis. The claims for service connection for PTSD, sleep apnea, cervical spine disorder, right upper extremity radiculopathy, left upper extremity radiculopathy, right wrist disorder and left wrist disorder were remanded.

The Board granted an effective date of April 6, 2021 for the Veteran's service connection for sleep apnea.

The Board granted service connection for lumbosacral strain and cervical strain, finding that the Veteran's back and neck conditions were caused by her service.

The Board remands the claim for an increased rating for lumbosacral strain prior to February 26, 2024, due to a need for additional evidence and clarification regarding the effects of medication on the severity of the Veteran's condition.

The Board remands the claim for a VA medical opinion to address whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is secondary to his service-connected depression and/or obesity.

The Board remands the issue of entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea for a new VA medical opinion.

The Board remands the matter to obtain an addendum medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is aggravated by her service-connected hypothyroidism.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding that the evidence did not support higher evaluations or service connection.

The appeal for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea has been withdrawn and is dismissed.

The appeal for service connection for sleep apnea was denied due to the lack of new and relevant evidence. The Board remanded the claim for a sleep disturbance disorder for further development, including an opinion on secondary service connection.

The Veteran withdrew her appeal for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, and the Board has no jurisdiction to review this claim.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, a dental disability to include missing teeth, and a recurrent gum disability. The claims for Type II diabetes mellitus, recurrent fatigue, lumbosacral spine, left lower extremity, ankle neurological, foot, joint, and bone disabilities were remanded.

The Board granted service connection for sinusitis and increased ratings of 40% but not higher for lumbosacral strain, urethritis, and depression.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and remanded claims for obstructive sleep apnea and a low back disability, while denying service connection for bilateral keratoconus and eczema.

The appeal for entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea and increased ratings for PTSD and a lumbar spine disability must be dismissed as a matter of law. However, the Veteran is granted a TDIU effective October 17, 2023.

The Board remands the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, to include as secondary to an acquired psychiatric disorder, due to a need for additional evidence and opinion.

The Board denied service connection for early-onset peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities on a presumptive basis, but granted secondary service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and an increased 10 percent rating for atrial flutter.,The Board remanded several issues including service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, Parkinson's disease, peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities (both direct and secondary), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, coronary artery disease with implanted cardiac pacemaker, PTSD, hypertension, and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board remands the claim for a secondary service connection for lumbosacral strain with intervertebral disc syndrome and spondylolisthesis due to the Veteran's right knee disability, as the previous medical opinions were found inadequate.

The Board denied a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for sleep apnea based on the evidence of record.