Sleep apnea decisions — 2025

The Board granted an effective date of November 17, 2019, for service connection for cervical strain and lumbosacral strain but remanded the other issues.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for sleep apnea to obtain an adequate medical opinion addressing direct and secondary (aggravation) theories of service connection.

The Board granted service connection for a heart disorder and obstructive sleep apnea, but denied service connection for rheumatoid arthritis. The claim for gout was remanded.

The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that the condition was caused by the Veteran's service-connected PTSD and allergic rhinitis.

The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding it to be secondary to the Veteran's service-connected depressive disorder and left ankle disorder.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an initial compensable evaluation for chronic rhinitis and chronic sinusitis, and dismissed his appeal for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

The Board remands the claims for service connection for bilateral knee disabilities, lumbar strain disability, and lower extremity radiculopathy disabilities due to an inadequate VA examination.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for various disorders, including neck pain and stiffness, back pain and stiffness, radiculopathy of upper and lower extremities, knee pain and stiffness, and ankle pain and stiffness, as the October 2023 VA examination reports did not adequately identify the Veteran's subjective symptoms such as pain, stiffness, or weakness.

The Board denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), finding that the Veteran's OSA was not caused or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD.

The Board granted service connection for dermatophytosis (tinea pedis and onychomycosis of the foot) with a rating of 30 percent, but denied service connection for multiple other conditions including hypokalemia, bilateral pes planus, cervical spine condition, left elbow condition, left foot hallux valgus, left hand condition, left hip condition, right hip condition, pain in left shoulder joint, right elbow condition, right hand condition, left extremity sciatica, right extremity sciatica, right knee condition, stomach issues, headaches, and obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board remands the claim for service connection of obstructive sleep apnea to obtain an adequate VA opinion.

The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), finding that both conditions are etiologically related to the Veteran's military service.

The Board remands the claims for an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD and service connection for GERD, a headache disability, and obstructive sleep apnea due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Board denied service connection for irritable bowel syndrome and posttraumatic stress disorder, but granted an effective date of February 4, 2024, for a 70 percent evaluation for PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal request was denied as it was not timely filed within the one-year period from the date of notification.

The Board granted service connection for hiatal hernia, finding it was caused by the Veteran's service-connected external hemorrhoids. The claim for sleep apnea was remanded for further development.

The Board granted service connection for lumbosacral strain, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to the Veteran's in-service exposure to hazardous noise.

The Board denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as the probative evidence did not show that it was incurred in or due to active service.

The Board denied service connection for dry eyes syndrome, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), erectile dysfunction (ED), gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and a compensable rating for migraine headaches.

The Board denied service connection for respiratory disability, to include COPD, and remanded the claims for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and heart disability.