Sleep apnea decisions — 2025

The appeal for service connection for sleep apnea was dismissed due to a procedural defect under the Appeals Modernization Act.

The appeal for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to post traumatic stress disorder, with depressive disorder, was dismissed due to a concurrent election of review options.

The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) based on the credible medical opinion that the Veteran's service-connected PTSD and musculoskeletal conditions caused him to become obese, which in turn caused his OSA.

The Board denied service connection for asthma, sinusitis, and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as the evidence did not support a diagnosis of these conditions or their relation to service.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for hypopharynx cancer and obstructive sleep apnea to obtain additional medical opinions.

The Board denied service connection for varicocele and remanded the claim for sleep apnea due to a pre-decisional duty-to-assist error.

The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding it to be proximately due to or aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), right knee patellofemoral syndrome, and bilateral plantar fasciitis.

The Board denied an effective date prior to April 5, 2022, for the award of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and denied an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for OSA.

The Board denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as there was no evidence of worsening during active-duty reserve service.

The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD with persistent depressive disorder and alcohol use disorder, severe.

The Board granted a 50 percent initial evaluation for persistent depressive disorder with anxious distress, but denied increased ratings for hypertension, sleep apnea, and tinnitus.

The Board granted an effective date of December 23, 2019, for service connection of lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis and degenerative disc disease other than intervertebral disc syndrome but denied earlier effective dates for the Veteran's left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome and post-concussive headaches.

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

The claim for an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for sleep apnea was dismissed because the Veteran did not file for one of the enumerated administrative review options within one year of the April 2020 rating decision that granted service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as the evidence did not support a finding of persistent daytime hypersomnolence or the need for a breathing assistance device such as a CPAP machine.

The Board remands the claims for increased ratings and service connection due to insufficient evidence and failure to obtain necessary medical examinations and opinions.

The Board denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that the evidence does not support a direct link to the Veteran's active service or any toxic exposure risk activities during service.

The Board remands the claim for service connection of sleep apnea to ensure an adequate medical examination is conducted.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea to address pre-decisional duty to assist errors, including obtaining an Individual Longitudinal Exposure Record (ILER) and a more detailed medical opinion.

The Board remands the claim for service connection of obstructive sleep apnea to obtain a more comprehensive medical opinion regarding its secondary relationship with the Veteran's service-connected cervical spine disability.