Sleep apnea decisions — 2025

The Veteran is granted Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities, but the claim for service connection for sleep apnea is remanded.

The Board granted revision of the January 2007 rating decision based on clear and unmistakable error (CUE) to reflect a 10 percent disability rating for service-connected chronic lumbosacral strain, effective March 30, 2004.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for service connection for major depressive disorder and for service connection for sleep apnea.

The Board granted service connection for erectile dysfunction and OSA, both considered secondary to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD with MDD.

The Board granted service connection for sleep apnea, diabetes mellitus, type II (DMII), gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), hypertension, and erectile dysfunction, all of which are found to be secondary to the Veteran's service-connected musculoskeletal disabilities.

The Board granted an effective date of August 9, 2021, for the award of service connection for lumbosacral spine disability and radiculopathy of both lower extremities but denied earlier effective dates.

The Board granted service connection for sleep apnea and dismissed the claim for bilateral hearing loss due to a claims processing defect. The appeal was denied for increased ratings of PTSD with depression, erectile dysfunction, and cervical and lumbar spine conditions, while these issues were remanded for further consideration.

The Board granted an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea but denied it for a headache disorder.

The Board remands the claim for service connection of obstructive sleep apnea to obtain a new medical opinion that adequately addresses all theories of entitlement, including direct service connection and the aggravation prong of secondary service connection.

The Board remands the matter to obtain an opinion on whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea was caused or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD, prolonged, with major depressive disorder and anxiety disorder previously to include with alcohol abuse and cannabis use in early remission.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for sleep apnea to correct a pre-decisional duty to assist error, specifically regarding the obtaining of private records.

The Board granted an effective date of October 12, 2021, for the grant of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and denied a disability rating greater than 50 percent for OSA.

The Board granted an increased rating of 50 percent for headaches and remanded the claims for increased ratings in excess of 10 percent for lumbosacral strain, lower right extremity radiculopathy, and lower left extremity radiculopathy.

The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as secondary to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), based on a private medical opinion that the Veteran's obesity, caused by his PTSD, was a substantial factor in causing OSA.

The Board remands the claim for service connection of sleep apnea to obtain an addendum opinion addressing its etiology, including whether it is related to in-service symptoms and secondary to service-connected disabilities.

The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding a medical nexus between the Veteran's current condition and his exposure to environmental hazards during Gulf War service.

The Board denied a disability rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD and granted service connection for heart, OSA, and GERD disabilities that are secondary to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased rating for lumbosacral strain and service connection for stomach and bowel disabilities due to insufficient evidence of current disability.

The Board granted an increased rating of 40 percent for lumbosacral strain, effective from December 13, 2023.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including shoulder, hand, foot, respiratory, and gastrointestinal issues, as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions began during active service or are otherwise related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.