Sleep apnea decisions — 2025

The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and periodic leg movements as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, but dismissed the appeal for a compensable disability rating for scarring of the scalp.

The Board granted service connection for sleep apnea syndrome, finding that the evidence supports a causal relationship between the Veteran's obesity and his persistent depressive disorder with anxious distress, which in turn led to the development of sleep apnea.

The Board denied service connection for multiple conditions, including a low back disability, facial scars, GERD, hypertension, nerve disorders of the lower extremities, shoulder disabilities, OSA, TMJ, tooth disorder, and voiding dysfunction, as there was no evidence of current diagnoses or in-service incurrence.

The Board granted an effective date of March 16, 2023, for ratings ranging from 10 to 50 percent for various service-connected conditions.

The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, resolving all doubt in the Veteran's favor and finding that his OSA is related to his obesity during service.

The Board denied service connection for tension headaches and eye surgery, granted a 10 percent evaluation for the right leg scar, and remanded several other issues related to service connection.

The Board denied service connection for urinary frequency and remanded the claims for service connection for hypertension and TDIU. The lumbosacral strain was granted a 20 percent rating.

The Board granted an increased rating of 50 percent for sleep apnea prior to April 30, 2014, but denied a higher rating and any additional service-connected conditions.

The Board remands the claim for a retrospective medical opinion to assess the severity and manifestations of the Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral spine disability.

The Board granted service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD.

The Board granted readjudication of the claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and hypertension, but denied readjudication of the claim for heart disease.

The Board remands the claim for a clarifying medical opinion on whether the Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder caused or aggravated her obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for an effective date prior to January 8, 2025, for the grant of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, tinnitus, and headache.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus, resolving doubt in the Veteran's favor. The other claims are remanded due to a duty to assist error.

The Board remands the claim for service connection of obstructive sleep apnea to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Board remanded several claims for further development and readjudication, including service connection for OSA and hypertension, as well as increased ratings for right wrist sprain, MDD, tension headaches, and other musculoskeletal conditions.

The Board granted a 70 percent rating for posttraumatic stress disorder and unspecified depressive disorder effective March 3, 2021, and a 30 percent rating for gastroesophageal reflux disease from January 26, 2022.

The Veteran withdrew the appeal for service connection claims related to bilateral knees, bilateral feet, tinnitus, OSA, acquired psychiatric disability, and pilonidal cyst.

The Board denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and remanded the claim for a respiratory disability, to include chronic bronchitis.