Sleep apnea decisions — 2025

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, sleep apnea, and non-compensable ratings for sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, thoracolumbar strain with degenerative arthritis of the spine, right knee strain, and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity sciatic nerve.

The Board granted service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD.

The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as it is proximately due to the Veteran's service-connected gastrointestinal, foot, psychiatric, back, knee, hip, and radicular disabilities.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection for migraine headaches and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as there were no specific errors of fact or law properly before the Board.

The Board denied service connection for cervical strain, lumbosacral strain, right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, and a left knee disability as they were not related to the Veteran's active service. The claims for chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are remanded for further development.

The Board remands the case to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors and obtain updated VA examinations to determine the current severity of the Veteran's asthma and sleep apnea, as well as which condition is predominant.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to his service-connected disabilities, which render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 50 percent for obstructive sleep apnea with asthma, to include a separate rating for asthma, was denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea due to a lack of evidence showing a current disability.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, headaches, and sleep apnea to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Board denied increased ratings for cervical strain and lumbosacral strain, granted a 10 percent rating for right lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy from February 20, 2019, to present, and granted TDIU from May 8, 2020, to March 17, 2021.

The Board granted service connection for sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's symptoms began during his active service.

The Board granted service connection for right carpal tunnel syndrome, left carpal tunnel syndrome, and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) based on the onset of these conditions during active military service.

The appeal was dismissed due to the Veteran's passing while it was pending.

The appeal for service connection for sinusitis, allergies, and vertigo was dismissed. The appeals for service connection for a psychiatric disability (anxiety), hypertension, heart disease, kidney disease, obstructive sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus were denied.

The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor and finding that his disability likely began during active service.

The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected musculoskeletal disabilities, with obesity serving as an intermediate factor.

The Veteran withdrew the appeal for service connection for sleep apnea, right ankle condition, and left ankle condition.

The appeal was dismissed due to the Veteran's death during its pendency.

The Board granted the Veteran's request to readjudicate his claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea based on a new theory of entitlement, secondary service connection with obesity as an intermediate step.