Sleep apnea decisions — 2025

The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding the evidence to be in equipoise as to whether the condition had its onset during active duty.

The Board granted service connection for OSA as secondary to PTSD, degenerative disc disease and arthritis of the lumbar spine, and degenerative arthritis of the left knee, with obesity as an intermediate step.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for sleep apnea to obtain a VA medical opinion that addresses whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is caused or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD.

The Board remands the claims for an earlier effective date and TDIU rating due to a duty to assist error in providing adequate VA examinations.

The Board remands the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea to obtain a more comprehensive medical opinion addressing whether the Veteran's service-connected knee conditions caused or aggravated his obesity, which in turn led to or aggravated his current obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board denied service connection for lumbosacral strain, left knee pain, right knee pain, right ankle pain, left ankle pain, and headaches as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions began during active service or are otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disability was remanded due to an inadequate medical opinion.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for sleep apnea to obtain an adequate medical opinion regarding its etiology.

The Board granted service connection for sleep apnea and vertigo on a direct basis, resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor.

The Board granted service connection for migraine headaches, resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor. The claim for sleep apnea was remanded due to inadequate VA opinions.

The Board denied service connection for a skin disorder, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), sinus disorder, and umbilical hernia as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected musculoskeletal conditions, finding a medical nexus between the weight gain caused by those conditions and the development of OSA.

The Board denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, peripheral neuropathy of both upper and lower extremities, and bladder cancer as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to the Veteran's active military service or any service-connected disability.

The Board remands the appeal for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and further developing the claim of entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to PTSD.

The Board denied an increased rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbosacral strain and denied an earlier effective date prior to August 16, 2022, for the assignment of a rating of 20 percent disabling for service-connected lumbosacral strain.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss but granted a 20% initial rating for lumbosacral strain, while denying higher ratings for right hip and hand disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea, finding that the evidence did not support a causal relationship between the Veteran's current sleep apnea and his military service.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of July 27, 2018 for service-connected obstructive sleep apnea based on the Veteran's continual pursuit of his claim.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and increased ratings, as well as service connection for various conditions.

The Board granted service connection for sleep apnea, resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor.

The Board remands the claims for a skin condition, sleep apnea syndrome, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors.