Sleep apnea decisions — 2025

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and knee conditions, rendered him unable to maintain regular, substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and experience. However, the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea was not related to his military service or his service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder.

The Board granted service connection for sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's symptoms began during active service and continued post-service.

The Veteran was granted an initial 60 percent disability rating for coronary artery disease from June 29, 2022, to February 20, 2023, and a 100 percent disability rating from February 21, 2023, forward. The Board also remanded several other claims including service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, obstructive sleep apnea, GERD, and TDIU.

The Board denied service connection for depression and anxiety, but remanded claims for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), headaches, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and asthma due to a need for additional evidence.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and denied service connection for sciatica, left hip condition, lumbosacral strain, and PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD and depressive disorder were granted an initial rating of 30 percent, but no higher, prior to May 19, 2024, with ratings in excess denied. OSA was granted service connection effective May 30, 2014.

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

The Board found new and relevant evidence regarding the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea claim, warranting a readjudication of the claim.

The Board remands the case to schedule a TERA examination and sleep study to determine if the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is related to toxic exposures during his Gulf War service.

The Board granted service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected depressive disorder, finding that the obesity caused by the depressive disorder was a substantial factor in causing the sleep apnea.

The Board granted a 40 percent rating for the Veteran's lumbosacral strain/degenerative arthritis of the spine/disc displacement, effective from the date of the last remand.

The appeal related to service connection for sleep apnea was dismissed as the claim has been granted in full.

The Board remands the Veteran's appeal for a new VA examination to address whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is directly related to his military service.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea to obtain a new VA medical opinion addressing whether it is secondary to a service-connected psychiatric disability.

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

The Board remands the case to issue a statement of the case regarding an increased rating for respiratory disabilities, including OSA, asthma, and status-post partial right pneumonectomy.

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

The Board remands the claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder and sleep apnea to obtain additional evidence, including VA treatment records, private treatment records from Dr. N.N., and medical opinions addressing the etiology of these conditions.

The Board remands the claim for a new VA opinion to address in-service notations and lay contentions regarding symptom chronicity and continuity.

The Board denied service connection for left shoulder, right knee, lung, and other specified trauma and stressor related disorder (psychiatric disability) claims while granting service connection for the psychiatric disability. The Board also denied increased ratings for various conditions including right ankle arthralgia, tinnitus, lumbosacral strain, and hypertension.