Sleep apnea decisions — 2025

The Board denied service connection for all claimed conditions as there was no evidence linking them to the Veteran's active duty service.

The Board granted service connection for allergic rhinitis and remanded the other claims for further development.

The Veteran withdrew the appeal for service connection for supraventricular arrhythmia, chronic paronychia, psoriasis and rosacea (claimed as skin condition), pulmonary nodules, and valvular heart disease.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the assignment of ratings and service connection, finding that the evidence did not support an earlier date than those assigned.

The Board denied a higher disability rating for obstructive sleep apnea as the evidence did not show that the Veteran required the use of a breathing assistance device such as continuous airway pressure (CPAP) machine.

The Board granted an evaluation of 20 percent for bulging disc, lumbosacral strain, effective from May 16, 2023, to June 28, 2024, and denied earlier effective dates for the awards of service connection for left and right leg radiculopathy, as well as for rhinitis and sinusitis.

The Board granted a 20 percent rating for lumbosacral strain prior to January 5, 2023, and a 10 percent rating for migraine headaches. The claims for increased ratings for GERD and PTSD were denied.

The Board granted an evaluation of 20 percent for bulging disc, lumbosacral strain, effective from May 16, 2023, to June 28, 2024, and denied earlier effective dates for the awards of service connection for left and right leg radiculopathy, as well as for rhinitis and sinusitis.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral foot disability and bilateral leg nerve damage, to include as secondary to a lumbosacral strain.

The Board denied service connection for lung cancer and remanded the claims for sleep apnea and bilateral hearing loss for further development.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea to obtain a medical opinion addressing the theory that OSA is related to the Veteran's service-connected knee disability with obesity as an intermediate step.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for sleep apnea and a right ankle sprain due to inadequate VA examinations and inconsistencies in TERA memorandums.

The Board remands the claim for service connection of obstructive sleep apnea to obtain a direct service connection opinion and an addendum VA examination.

The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected insomnia associated with tinnitus.

The Board denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as it is not proximately due to or the result of an already service-connected disease or injury, and there is no evidence establishing a direct relationship between OSA and the Veteran's active service.

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

The appeal for an increased evaluation in excess of 20 percent for lumbosacral strain and thoracic strain was denied, while other issues were remanded.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, an eye condition (vision), and a functional gastrointestinal disorder (claimed as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)), and denied an earlier effective date of service connection prior to April 11, 2022, for sleep apnea. The Board also denied a rating in excess of 50 percent for sleep apnea.

The Board denied the restoration of a separate 50 percent rating for sleep apnea due to clear and unmistakable error in the May 2008 rating decision.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an initial compensable rating for hypertension, service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to PTSD, and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability. The claims for service connection for left shoulder tendonitis, right shoulder pain, and lumbar spine disease were remanded.