Sleep apnea decisions — 2025

The Board granted service connection for sleep apnea, finding that the evidence is at least in approximate balance regarding whether the Veteran's diagnosed OSA had its onset in service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and diabetes mellitus, type II, as there was no evidence to support a medical nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Board denied entitlement to an evaluation in excess of 50 percent for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), finding that the Veteran's symptoms, including persistent daytime hypersomnolence and concentration difficulties, were already contemplated by the current rating.

The Board remands the issue of entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea due to insufficient evidence regarding its etiology and a need for a VA examination.

The Board remands the claim for an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) to include chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), as a pre-decisional duty to assist error was found regarding the Veteran's COPD, and he needs an appropriate VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for dermatochalasis, meibomian gland dysfunction, and blepharitis. The claims for lumbosacral strain, left lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatic nerve), right shoulder tendinopathy, diabetes, and prostate cancer with urinary incontinence status-post prostatectomy were remanded.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea as the evidence does not support that the Veteran currently has a sleep apnea disability.

The Board granted service connection for eye conditions, an acquired psychiatric disorder, and obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus type II with erectile dysfunction and left eye retinopathy. However, it denied increased ratings for multiple peripheral neuropathies, hypertension, and status post tympanoplasty.

The appeal for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea has been withdrawn by the appellant.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for service connection and granted increased ratings for lumbosacral strain and right ankle disability.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates, finding no legal basis to award higher ratings or earlier effective dates.

The Board remands the Veteran's appeal for an adequate VA medical opinion to address whether obstructive sleep apnea is secondary to service-connected PTSD, including via obesity as an intermediate step.

The Board dismissed the claims for service connection for bronchitis, COPD, asthma, compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for OSA, and an increased rating higher than 20 percent for painful malunion of the left clavicle.

The Board remands the matter to obtain an addendum medical opinion addressing service connection for obstructive sleep apnea on both direct and secondary bases, including consideration of obesity as an intermediate step between the service-connected PTSD and claimed obstructive sleep apnea.

The appeal for service connection for hypertension and sleep apnea was dismissed due to a duty to assist error in the April 2025 rating decision.

The Board denied the claims for service connection for a facial injury, head injury, and left thumb injury as there was no evidence of current disability or functional impairment. The claims for GERD, squamous mucosa, migraine headaches, and hypertension were remanded for further development.

The Board granted a 40 percent rating for lumbosacral strain and denied or remanded the other issues on appeal.

The Board granted service connection for lumbar spine disability, as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected left foot crush injury, and sciatic radiculopathy of both lower extremities, also secondary to the newly service-connected lumbar spine disability. The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for depressive disorder with unspecified anxiety disorder and a compensable rating for allergic rhinitis.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities precluded him from securing and maintaining all forms of substantially gainful employment effective February 2, 2023.

The Board granted service connection for sinusitis due to presumed exposure to fine particulate matter in the Southwest Asia theater of operations, but denied service connection for restless leg syndrome and obstructive sleep apnea.