Sleep apnea decisions — 2025

The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for hypertension and remanded the claims for service connection for lumbosacral strain, right ankle sprain with residual intermittent pain, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), erectile dysfunction (ED), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), plantar fasciitis, and left leg nerve disorder.

The Board granted service connection for a back condition and a right shoulder condition, but dismissed the appeals for entitlement to service connection for a left shoulder condition and a right knee condition. The issue of entitlement to service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (sleep apnea) was remanded.

The Board denied service connection for lumbosacral strain and intervertebral disc syndrome as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by active military service.

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

The Board remands the issue of entitlement to service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), to include as secondary to a service-connected right ankle disability, due to an incomplete medical opinion.

The appeal as to the proposal to reduce the disability rating for lumbosacral strain, from 40 percent to 20 percent is dismissed. The matters of service connection for migraine headaches and neck strain are remanded.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and a compensable rating for various musculoskeletal conditions, as well as remanded two service connection claims.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the award of a 20 percent rating for service-connected back disability and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, as well as remanded the claim for total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to September 1, 2023.

The Board granted service connection for left lower extremity neuropathy, left upper extremity neuropathy, right lower extremity neuropathy, right upper extremity neuropathy, obstructive sleep apnea, and restrictive lung disease unspecified type. The increased rating claims for coronary artery disease with stent status post myocardial infarction with block and asymptomatic bradycardia (CAD) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) were denied, but a total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) was granted.

The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that it is proximately due to the Veteran's service-connected insomnia.

The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and major depressive disorder (MDD), resolving all doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board granted service connection for OSA as secondary to PTSD with MDD, and assigned a 50 percent rating. The effective date for the increased rating of PTSD with MDD and DEA benefits was set at June 17, 2019.

The Board granted service connection for lumbosacral strain, finding a causal relationship between the Veteran's current disability and an in-service injury.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and COPD, finding no evidence to support a link between these conditions and his military service.

The Board remands the issue of an initial compensable rating for sleep apnea due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The appeal for service connection for sleep apnea was dismissed due to the Veteran's death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board remands the claim for service connection of obstructive sleep apnea to correct a pre-decisional duty-to-assist error, specifically regarding direct and secondary (aggravation) service connection.

The Board remands the issue of entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea due to further development and examination.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for the Veteran's lumbosacral strain based on the evidence showing limitation of forward flexion to 70 degrees and combined range of motion of 185 degrees, which did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding that the evidence did not support higher ratings or service connection for the claimed conditions.