Sleep apnea decisions — 2025

The Board remands the claims for service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome, sleep apnea, heartburn, and a burn scar on the left upper extremity due to duty-to-assist errors.

The proposed reductions in the ratings for GERD and lumbosacral strain were dismissed as they were not final decisions, while the issues related to patellofemoral pain syndrome with tendinitis of both knees are remanded for further examination.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a digestive disability other than diverticulosis with lactose intolerance, but granted an initial 10 percent rating for bilateral shin splints effective March 22, 2020.

The appeal was denied for various conditions, including persistent depressive disorder with memory loss, lumbosacral strain, cervical strain, tinnitus, and knee strains. The service connection for degenerative arthritis was also denied.

The appeal of the proposed reduction in disability rating from 50 percent to 30 percent for migraine headaches is dismissed, and entitlements to an initial compensable rating for mouth and tongue aphthous ulcers, increased rating for left eye old branch retinal artery occlusion with glaucoma, and higher level of special monthly compensation are denied. The service connection claims for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) claimed as acid reflux and sleep apnea are remanded.

The Board granted service connection for left hip strain, right hip strain, left patellofemoral pain syndrome, right patellofemoral pain syndrome, and lumbosacral strain with intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS), all as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral shin splints.

The Board granted service connection for plantar fasciitis and a lumbosacral strain as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral knee strains, but remanded the claim for idiopathic urticaria.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding no evidence of a current sleep apnea disability, and that his asthma, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and acquired psychiatric disability did not meet the criteria for higher ratings.

The Board denied increased ratings for cervical spondylosis and stenosis with IVDS, lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease and IVDS, radiculopathy of the right upper extremity, radiculopathy of the left upper extremity, radiculopathy of sciatic nerve of the left lower extremity, radiculopathy of femoral nerve of the right lower extremity, and radiculopathy of the external cutaneous nerve of the thigh of both lower extremities. However, a 40 percent rating was granted for radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve of the right lower extremity and a 30 percent rating was granted for radiculopathy of the femoral nerve of the left lower extremity.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder with alcohol use disorder, as the Veteran did not continuously pursue entitlement to this benefit after its initial denial in June 2014.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for GERD and OSA to obtain additional evidence and opinions.

The appeal for service connection of obstructive sleep apnea, including as secondary to PTSD and GERD, is remanded. The Board will obtain a new VA examination.

The Board remanded the case to determine if the veteran's dishonorable discharge bars VA benefits and to reevaluate service connection for body pain, right knee disability, heart disability, and sleep apnea.

The appeal for service connection of sleep apnea is remanded. The Board needs clarification on the baseline used to determine if PTSD aggravated the sleep apnea.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a rating higher than 40% for their back condition. The decision was based on the lack of evidence showing the criteria for a higher rating were met.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and obstructive sleep apnea, finding that there is no evidence to support a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Board remanded the appeal to obtain a new retrospective opinion regarding the Veteran's lumbosacral strain, degenerative arthritis, and degenerative disc disease. The previous opinions were inadequate.

Service connection for degenerative disc disease (DDD) of the lumbosacral spine is granted. The Veteran's current DDD is related to an in-service back injury caused by a hard helicopter landing.

The veteran's 60 percent rating for low back disability was restored, but higher ratings and other claims were denied or remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea was denied. The claim for right eye cataract was remanded for further evaluation.