Sleep apnea decisions — 2025

The Board granted service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and obstructive sleep apnea on a secondary basis to the service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The Board denied service connection for diabetes, neuropathy of the bilateral lower and upper extremities, and sleep apnea as not being related to the Veteran's military service. The Board also denied an increased rating for depression prior to August 1, 2022, and earlier effective dates for TDIU and DEA.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a compensable rating for bulimia nervosa and a higher rating for PTSD with bipolar disorder, finding that the evidence did not support a more severe rating.

The Board remands the claim for service connection of obstructive sleep apnea to obtain a new VA medical opinion that addresses the Veteran's in-service symptoms and lay statements, as well as any potential secondary relationship with his service-connected PTSD.

The Board remands the issues of entitlement to increased evaluations for service-connected degenerative disc disease, lumbosacral spine; left and right lower radiculopathy, sciatic nerve; and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of pleomorphic liposarcoma of the right upper back, finding that the evidence did not support a causal relationship between the Veteran's liposarcoma and his active service.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea to correct an error by the agency of original jurisdiction in satisfying a regulatory duty.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea and an acquired psychiatric disability, to include anxiety and depression. The claims for earlier effective dates were dismissed as they are not valid freestanding claims.

The Board granted service connection for left knee strain and right knee strain effective February 10, 2023, but dismissed the claims as moot. The Board also granted increased ratings for certain conditions while denying others.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea as there was no evidence of the claimed disability in the Veteran's medical records.

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

The Board granted a 40 percent disability rating for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis of the spine, effective March 12, 2023.

The Board granted service connection for diabetes mellitus type II with erectile dysfunction, left foot peripheral neuropathy of the sciatic nerve, and hypertension, effective from November 2, 2022. Other claims were denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for a separate service-connected disability rating for sleep apnea, as it is not separately rated due to being part of his asthma condition.

The Board remands the claim for a new medical opinion to determine if the Veteran's sleep apnea is related to his service-connected left knee disability or in-service toxic exposure risk activity.

The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea based on the evidence showing that the Veteran's current condition is related to his active-duty service.

The Board remands the service connection claim for sleep apnea due to an inadequate VA examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea as there is no evidence of a current disability related to service.

The Board granted service connection for a left knee scar, status-post infrapatellar ligament tear surgical repair, left knee degenerative joint disease with limitation of motion and pain, left knee infrapatellar ligament tear, status-post repair, tinnitus, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and right ear hearing loss.

The Board remands the claim for a new VA medical opinion to address whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is caused or aggravated by his service-connected depressive disorder, and whether it is related to toxic risk exposure during service.