Sleep apnea decisions — 2025

The Board remands the claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea to obtain a new VA opinion that addresses the Veteran's allegations and provides a full rationale.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for athlete's foot, right wrist condition, and sleep apnea to provide a medical examination and opinion under the PACT Act.

The Board denied an initial rating greater than 10 percent for the Veteran's lumbosacral strain, degenerative disc disease other than intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS), and spondylolisthesis with vertebral fracture based on the evidence showing that the disability did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Board granted a 10 percent rating for the lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease and right lower extremity radiculopathy, but denied an increased rating for left foot calcaneal enthesopathy.

The appeal for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is dismissed due to duplicate filings.

The Board granted service connection for sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's service-connected PTSD caused his obesity, which in turn led to the development of sleep apnea.

The Board denied service connection for fibromyalgia and remanded several other claims related to various disabilities, including an acquired psychiatric disorder, hypogonadism, obstructive sleep apnea, a cardiovascular disability, a kidney disability, and an immune system disability.

The Board remands the claims for an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for multinodular goiter with intermittent hyperthyroidism and syncopal episodes associated with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, and in excess of 20 percent for femoral neuropathy, left leg, due to a lack of substantial compliance with the previous remand instructions.

The Board remands the claims for further development as there was not substantial compliance with previous remand directives.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea, memory loss, blood disorder, PTSD, lower back disorder, and gastrointestinal disorder, to include GERD, as there was no evidence of a current disability or nexus to active duty.

The Board granted service connection for GERD, secondary to the Veteran's service-connected anxiety and depression. The evidence is in approximate balance supporting a causal connection between the Veteran's GERD and his service-connected disabilities.

The Board remanded the claims for service connection for sleep apnea and hypertension for further adjudication, as there were no adequate medical opinions concerning their etiology.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the grants of service connection and TDIU, as well as initial ratings in excess of 50 percent for sleep apnea, a compensable rating for hypertension, and increased ratings for various other disabilities.

The Board denied the applications to revise an October 2022 rating decision based on clear and unmistakable error (CUE) for assigning effective dates of May 27, 2021 for various service connection claims.

The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including an adjustment disorder with anxiety, but denied and remanded the claims for a back condition.

The Board remands the matter for an addendum nexus opinion to address whether there is a secondary relationship between central sleep apnea and service-connected disabilities.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea to afford the Veteran an appropriate examination and readjudicate based on new evidence.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea to obtain an adequate medical opinion that addresses the evidence in relation to the Veteran's specific medical history and risk factors.

The appeal for entitlement to left hip injury, right hip injury, and right hand injury was dismissed as these issues were not properly appealed. The remaining claims are remanded for further development.

The Board remands the claim for an addendum opinion regarding whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is aggravated by his service-connected PTSD.