Sleep apnea decisions — 2025

The Board denied earlier effective dates for service connection and ratings, but granted a 70% initial rating for depressive disorder from January 22, 2021 to August 26, 2021.

The Board remands the claim for service connection of sleep apnea to correct a duty to assist error, specifically regarding an adequate VA medical opinion.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for sleep apnea to obtain a more detailed medical opinion considering the Veteran's exposure to burn pits and other toxic substances during his military service.

The Board denied service connection for left ear hearing loss and denied initial ratings above the assigned levels for various service-connected conditions, except for a 50 percent rating for tension headaches.

The Board denied service connection for a left knee disability due to the lack of evidence supporting a current diagnosis, and remanded the claim for further development regarding a back disability.

The Board denied service connection for headaches, a left foot disability, a left knee disability, a left lower extremity nerve condition, a back disability, a right foot disability, a right knee disability, a right lower extremity nerve condition, and sleep apnea.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, headaches, and OSA due to deficiencies in the evidence of record.

The Board granted increased initial ratings, earlier effective dates, and service connection for the veteran's unspecified anxiety disorder and obstructive sleep apnea, as well as a total disability rating due to individual unemployability.

The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected anxiety.

The Board granted service connection for lumbosacral strain, finding new and relevant evidence that supported the claim.

The Board remands the claim for service connection of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) to include as secondary to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), due to a need for additional development and an adequate medical opinion.

The veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection for PTSD, depression, sleep disorder/insomnia, and sleep apnea.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for sleep apnea to correct a duty to assist error, specifically to obtain an opinion on its etiology.

The Board denied service connection for chronic sinusitis, remanded the claims for sleep apnea and chronic fatigue syndrome for further development.

The Board granted service connection for sleep apnea, finding that it was caused or aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The appeal for service connection for a back disability was reopened and granted, while the appeal for sleep apnea was dismissed. The Board also remanded an issue regarding degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine.

The Board granted service connection for claudication and urinary incontinence associated with the Veteran's lumbosacral strain, but remanded an increased rating claim for the lumbar spine disability.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, erectile dysfunction as secondary to PTSD with major depressive disorder, and hypertension as secondary to PTSD with major depressive disorder. It also granted a 100 percent rating for PTSD with major depressive disorder from May 1, 2023, and special monthly compensation (SMC) under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s).

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, a lumbosacral spine disability, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and right leg sciatica as they are not related to active service or any incident of service. The Veteran's service-connected bilateral shin splints did not cause or aggravate these conditions.

The Board granted service connection for sleep apnea, tension headaches, and erectile dysfunction as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder and alcohol use disorder.