Sleep apnea decisions — 2025

The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance, effective December 8, 2025.

The Board granted service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder, obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to PTSD, atrial fibrillation as secondary to hypertension, and congestive heart failure with cardiomyopathy and ventricular hypertrophy as secondary to hypertension.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of May 19, 2021 for the 20 percent rating for degenerative arthritis of the right elbow joint and a 30 percent disability rating for migraine headaches, while denying increased ratings for other conditions.

The appeal is remanded to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors by the AOJ.

The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, 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 mixed sleep apnea due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Board remands the service connection claim for obstructive sleep apnea to obtain additional medical evidence regarding its etiology, including whether it is related to toxic exposures or aggravated by a service-connected condition.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea to correct duty to assist errors, including obtaining outstanding private medical records and an addendum opinion regarding aggravation by a service-connected condition.

The appeal of the issues related to increased ratings for various conditions, including tendonitis of the right ankle, osteoarthritis of the left ankle, lumbosacral strain, and radiculopathy in both lower extremities, was dismissed due to a procedural defect.

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

The Board granted service connection for sleep apnea (OSA) and denied service connection for erectile dysfunction (ED) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

The Board of Veterans' Appeals denied service connection for the cause of death, finding that there was no evidence to support a causal relationship between the Veteran's service-connected disabilities and his metastatic rectal carcinoma.

The Board remands the claim for a new VA examination to determine if the Veteran's severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected interstitial lung disease, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), and lung transplant.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 20 percent for IVDS with DDD, degenerative arthritis, and lumbosacral strain.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as secondary to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) due to inadequate medical opinions and a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Board denied service connection for various disabilities, including sinusitis, lung disability, liver disability, kidney disability, sleep apnea, shoulder disabilities, peripheral neuropathy of the extremities, and flatfoot, as there was no evidence to support a link between these conditions and the Veteran's active military service.

The Board remands the claim for service connection of obstructive sleep apnea to allow the AOJ to obtain an adequate medical examination and opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's OSA and his service, including any toxic exposures or service-connected disabilities.

The veteran withdrew his appeal for all service connection and rating claims, resulting in the dismissal of each claim.

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.

The Board has denied service connection for multiple conditions and denied higher initial ratings for several service-connected disabilities.