Sleep apnea decisions — 2025

The Board granted service connection for GERD and denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, with the claim for sleep apnea being remanded.

The Board remands the claim for an adequate medical opinion regarding direct service connection, including consideration of the Veteran's report that his symptoms began in service. The Board also requires additional opinions on whether sleep apnea was caused or aggravated by PTSD and alcohol use disorder.

The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's symptoms began during his active duty and have been continuous since then.

The appeal for service connection for sleep apnea was dismissed due to a procedural defect in the filing of the Notice of Disagreement (NOD) within one year of the May 2022 rating decision.

The Board remands the Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for service connection of a lumbosacral strain and right knee strain to the AOJ for further adjudication.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and hypertension as secondary to bilateral knee joint osteoarthritis with degenerative arthritis based on obesity as an intermediate step due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for major depressive disorder and obstructive sleep apnea, as the earliest possible effective dates were May 8, 2017, and September 5, 2014, respectively.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for the evaluation and effective date of multiple sclerosis with sleep apnea, right lower neurological condition, right upper neurological condition, and left eye optic neuritis with ophthalmic manifestations.

The Board granted service connection for a cervical spine condition, left shoulder strain with impingement syndrome, and obstructive sleep apnea.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him in need of regular aid and attendance, entitling him to special monthly compensation.

The Board remands the case for an additional medical examination to determine whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is related to his active service.

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

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea as there was no evidence of a respiratory injury, disease, or symptoms during service and the condition was not shown until many years after service.

The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's service-connected obstructive sleep apnea, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and pulmonary fibrosis were rated at 50 percent effective September 3, 2020. The Veteran was also granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) and eligibility for Dependents' Education Assistance (DEA) benefits from the same date.

The appeal of entitlement to service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, malignant growths of the skin (claimed as skin cancer (melanoma)), and residual scars associated with skin are dismissed due to a procedural defect in filing the claims.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for the right shoulder and 10 percent for the right knee, granted a separate 10 percent rating for instability of the right knee, and remanded several other claims including service connection for psychiatric disorders, hypertension, left knee disorder, sleep apnea, and TDIU.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea and denied initial ratings higher than 20 percent for a left shoulder strain and higher than 10 percent for a low back disability. The issues of entitlement to service connection for radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities were remanded.

The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that it is proximately due to the Veteran's service-connected unspecified trauma and stressor related disorder and patellofemoral pain syndrome/bursitis of the right knee.

The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as due to a service-connected disability, based on evidence that the Veteran's obesity was caused by his service-connected disabilities and that this obesity contributed to the development of OSA.