Sleep apnea decisions — 2025

The Board remands the issues of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and external popliteal nerve, paralysis of (foot drop) due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board remands the case for further development and verification of any additional periods of active duty, ACDUTRA, or INACDUTRA.

The Board granted a higher rating of 20 percent for the right great toe fracture but denied increased ratings for lumbosacral and thoracic strain with intervertebral disc syndrome, acromioclavicular joint separation, right shoulder, and service connection for joint pains.

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

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, a right knee disorder, a left knee disorder, a neck disorder, and chronic fatigue. The claims for obstructive sleep apnea, headache disorder, and an acquired psychiatric disorder were remanded.

The Board denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as it is not related to the Veteran's active service or any service-connected disability.

The Board denied a compensable rating for external hemorrhoids and remanded the claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

The Board granted service connection for right ankle bursitis, left ankle bursitis, lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis and IVDS, a 30 percent rating for the right knee condition, and an initial 10 percent rating for sinusitis.

The Veteran was granted an initial disability rating of 40 percent for lumbosacral strain, DJD, from December 17, 1997 to June 3, 2022, and the effective date for service connection for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy was also set at December 17, 1997. However, a higher rating or TDIU was denied.

The Board granted the petitions to readjudicate claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an acquired psychiatric disability, while denying service connection for lower back, kidney, diabetes mellitus type II, hypertension, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and sleep apnea.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy and obstructive sleep apnea, to include as secondary to a service-connected condition, due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance or housebound status due to her service-connected disabilities not meeting the criteria.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran. The other issues related to PTSD, sciatica nerve left leg, sleep apnea, and diabetes were remanded due to incomplete records.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for cervical spine, lumbar spine, and GERD disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for asthma, GERD, hiatal hernia, Barret's esophagus, and sleep apnea as there is no evidence of a causal relationship between the current disabilities and in-service exposure to toxins.

The Board denied service connection for right ear hearing loss and bilateral vision disabilities, while remanding claims for left ear hearing loss, bilateral pes planus, headaches, and obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, but denied service connection for somatic symptom disorder, depression, and an initial compensable rating for hypertension. The claims for sleep apnea, vertigo, and a gastrointestinal disability were remanded.

The Board denied various claims for increased ratings and service connection, including cervical spine strain with IVDS, upper extremity radiculopathy, tinnitus, lumbosacral strain, and shin splints.

The Board dismissed all service connection claims due to the Veteran's death, as there is no substituted appellant for this appeal.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea to correct a duty to assist error, as no medical opinions were obtained regarding the etiology of the condition and whether it was caused or aggravated by service-connected conditions.