Sleep apnea decisions — 2025

The Board granted the reinstatement of a 20% rating for lumbosacral strain, granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability on a secondary basis, and denied service connection for a left knee disability. The other claims were remanded.

The Board remands the claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to an inadequate VA examination.

The Veteran was granted a 70 percent evaluation for TBI with BPPV and memory loss effective from April 9, 2021, to June 22, 2021, and Chapter 35 DEA benefits for the same period. The grant of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea was denied an earlier effective date.

The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), but dismissed the appeals for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and hypertension.

The Board remands the claim for service connection of sleep apnea to obtain an additional VA opinion regarding its etiology in relation to the Veteran's service-connected conditions.

The Board granted service connection for a disability manifested by fatigue as due to undiagnosed illness and sleep apnea.

The Board restored the 20% disability ratings for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, granted initial 20% ratings for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy of the femoral nerve, and granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board remands the claim for service connection of sleep apnea to obtain an addendum opinion regarding whether it is aggravated by a service-connected condition.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and remanded the claim for an evaluation in excess of 20 percent for lumbosacral strain with sacroiliac injury and weakness due to a pre-decisional error in the duty to assist.

The appeal of service connection for sleep apnea was dismissed due to a procedural defect in the notice of disagreement.

The Board denied service connection for an anxiety disorder due to insufficient evidence of a current disability and no nexus to service. The remaining claims were remanded for further development.

The Board granted service connection for sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's weight gain and obesity, which were caused by his service-connected left knee tendinitis, led to the development of sleep apnea.

The Board remands the service connection claim for obstructive sleep apnea to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for a higher rating than 20 percent for lumbosacral strain and intervertebral disc syndrome, finding the evidence supports only a 20 percent rating. The Board remanded claims for cervical strain service connection, higher ratings for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, and TDIU eligibility due to duty to assist errors and the need for additional medical examinations.

The Board granted service connection for sleep apnea syndromes as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right and left knee disabilities.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for migraine headaches and sleep apnea as secondary to service-connected disabilities due to inadequate VA examination opinions.

The Board granted service connection for hypertension and ED, denied service connection for obesity and bilateral hearing loss, and granted ratings of 20 percent or less for various lower extremity radiculopathies and right hand strains.

The Board granted service connection for hypothyroidism and remanded several claims, while dismissing or denying the rest.

The Board granted increased ratings of 30 percent for GERD and 20 percent for lumbosacral strain, effective from the date of the October 2023 rating decision.

The Board remands the claim for an opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea, including whether it is related to service or aggravated by service-connected disabilities.