Sleep apnea decisions — 2025

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a left knee disability, diabetes mellitus, type II (DM), hypertension, and obstructive sleep apnea to ensure compliance with the duty to assist by obtaining additional medical opinions.

The Board remands all claims for service connection due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error and the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as it is proximately due to the Veteran's service-connected adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for diverticulitis and obstructive sleep apnea to obtain additional medical opinions regarding their relationship to the Veteran's service-connected kidney condition.

The Board granted service connection for sleep apnea and a back disability, both on a direct basis. The Veteran was also granted an initial 10 percent rating for migraines from January 31, 2023.

The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding it to be secondary to the Veteran's service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The Board denied service connection for lumbosacral strain, a neck condition, a left shoulder condition, and a right ankle condition as the evidence did not support a finding that any of these conditions were related to the Veteran's active military service.

The Board remands the claim for service connection of obstructive sleep apnea to address pre-decisional errors and ensure a thorough medical examination.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include depression; lumbosacral strain with intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS); a left lower extremity nerve disability; and a right lower extremity nerve disability. The claims were remanded for further development regarding hypertension and bilateral hearing loss.

The veteran has withdrawn the appeal, and there are no remaining allegations of errors for appellate consideration.

The Board denied service connection for lumbosacral strain and myofascitis, degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine (claimed as bulging disc C3-C4 and C5-C6), an increased rating for gastroesophageal reflux disease, bilateral hearing loss, headaches, and allergic rhinitis. The Board also denied earlier effective dates for these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea, finding that the evidence does not support a link between the condition and the Veteran's active service.

The Board granted an initial 10 percent rating for the Veteran's right knee, right ankle, and left ankle disabilities. The service connection claim for obstructive sleep apnea was remanded.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and left ear hearing loss to correct an error by the AOJ in satisfying its duty to assist under 38 U.S.C. § 5103A.

The Board granted service connection for lumbosacral strain and hematemesis, while denying an earlier effective date for irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea and granting a 30 percent rating for it. The acid reflux disability claim was remanded.

The Board granted an initial rating of 50 percent for obstructive sleep apnea, which was aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disorders.

The Board denied the veteran's request for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for sleep apnea, finding that no formal or informal claim was received prior to January 24, 2024.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a foot disability, hearing loss, heart disability, sleep apnea, and PTSD due to insufficient evidence.

The Board restored the 30% disability rating for migraine headaches and denied an increased rating. Sleep apnea was granted as secondary to PTSD.

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