Sleep apnea decisions — 2025

The Board granted service connection for sleep apnea, finding that it is aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected PTSD.

The Board denied service connection for neck pain, bilateral hearing loss, right lower extremity sciatica, an acquired psychiatric disorder (anxiety and depression), obstructive sleep apnea, sinusitis, and left plantar fasciitis.

The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) due to obesity secondary to a service-connected unspecified depressive disorder, denied an increased rating for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board dismissed the claims for a compensable rating for headaches, an increased rating for PTSD and obstructive sleep apnea with asthma, as well as denied service connection for various conditions including allergies, bronchiectasis, nasal polyps, nausea, severe anxiety, severe depression, sexual dysfunction, suicidal ideations, and vertigo.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates for left knee strain, lumbosacral strain, service connection for a right hip disability (degenerative arthritis), and a right elbow disability.

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

The Board remands the claim for a new VA medical opinion addressing whether the Veteran's sleep apnea was caused or aggravated by his service-connected tinnitus.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and basic eligibility for DEA benefits, as there was no evidence that the Veteran had a service-connected disability rated as permanent and total prior to June 30, 2022.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and OSA but denied service connection for hypertension, hypertensive heart disease, right hip pain (secondary to knee disabilities), left ankle disability, and right ankle disability.

The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected sinusitis and rhinitis.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted a higher initial rating of 70 percent, while the claim for a higher disability rating for obstructive sleep apnea with asthma is denied.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for various conditions, including an acquired psychiatric condition and diabetes, to ensure that all relevant VA treatment records are associated with the claims file.

The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for pseudofolliculitis barbae and granted a 20 percent rating for left and right lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy, while denying service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome, insomnia, neck strain, shoulder strain, and sleep apnea.

The Board denied a disability rating in excess of 30 percent for asthma and remanded the claims for service connection for cataracts and obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board denied increased ratings for larynx cancer, PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. A 10 percent rating was granted for hypertension, but the claims for colon cancer with residuals and obstructive sleep apnea were remanded.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for hernia, lumbosacral strain, left and right knee strains, and left and right shoulder strains due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Board granted an effective date of November 29, 2021, but no earlier, for the award of service connection for a lumbosacral strain and January 11, 2023, but no earlier, for the award of service connection for right lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatic), right lower extremity radiculopathy (femoral), and left lower extremity radiculopathy (femoral).

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased rating for obstructive sleep apnea and a compensable rating for allergic rhinitis, while remanding claims for service connection for adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood and posttraumatic stress disorder.

The Board remands the claim for a direct service connection opinion and an examination to address whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea had onset in service or is otherwise related to service, as well as whether it was caused or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD with depression.

The Board remands the case to obtain a new medical opinion on whether the veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.