Sleep apnea decisions — 2025

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbosacral strain with intervertebral disc syndrome, right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right shoulder strain with rotator cuff tendonitis.

The Board dismissed the claims for service connection for GERD and obstructive sleep apnea due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors identified during Higher Level Review, while remanding the claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for aortic dissection and entitlement to TDIU.

The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that it was caused or aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected other specified trauma and stressor disorder via obesity as an intermediate step.

The Board denied service connection for right ear hearing loss and granted an initial rating of 40 percent for lumbosacral strain, effective October 20, 2022. The claims for left ear hearing loss and a respiratory disability were remanded.

The Board granted service connection for lumbar myositis, degenerative disc disease, other than intervertebral disc syndrome, and obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for sinusitis and remanded the claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and denied earlier effective dates, initial ratings higher than 30 percent for chronic adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety, depressed mood, and insomnia, and initial ratings higher than 10 percent for lumbosacral strain. The claims for service connection for various conditions were remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, as there was no evidence of a current disability or symptoms related to sleep apnea during or proximate to the appeal period.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and hypertension, as secondary to OSA, due to inadequate VA medical opinions.

The Board granted a 50 percent rating for the Veteran's tension headaches, finding that they more nearly approximate very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for right knee strain, lumbosacral strain, cervical strain, and right shoulder strain due to inadequate VA examinations.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and sleep apnea, as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to the Veteran's military service.

The Board granted service connection for tension headaches as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) but dismissed the appeal for obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for sleep apnea and remanded it for further development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the condition.

The Board remands the matter of entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea for a new opinion regarding whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is related to or caused by his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus and remanded claims for increased ratings for PTSD with alcohol use disorder in remission and traumatic brain injury, as well as service connection for sleep apnea.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors, including not attempting to obtain potentially relevant treatment records and not associating them with the claims file.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea due to an inadequate medical opinion and a duty-to-assist error.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease and herniated nucleus pulposus at the L4-5 level, as there is no evidence of a nexus between the condition and his military service.

The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected orthopedic and psychiatric disabilities, finding that there was an approximate balance of positive and negative evidence regarding the claim.