Sleep apnea decisions — 2025

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbosacral strain with intervertebral disc syndrome, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board granted an initial evaluation of 50 percent, but no higher, for obstructive sleep apnea beginning April 11, 2025.

The Board granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities beginning August 14, 2018, and special monthly compensation at the statutory housebound rate beginning July 23, 2019. Other claims for increased ratings were denied.

The Board remands the claim for service connection of sleep apnea, secondary to tinnitus and/or hearing loss, due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error in obtaining an adequate medical opinion addressing aggravation.

The Board denied service connection for lower back sprain and left knee tendonitis, as there was no evidence of a current disability. The claims for right knee tendinitis and sleep apnea were remanded due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as secondary to a lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis of the spine, but dismissed appeals regarding the proposed severance of service connection for left shoulder impingement syndrome and arthroscopy.

The Board denied service connection for the claimed conditions as there was no evidence of a current disability that began during active service or is otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability and granted service connection for a cervical strain. The claims for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and low back disability were remanded.

The Board remands the claims for further development and to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding the evidence to be in relative equipoise.

The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, secondary to diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities with obesity as an intermediate step.

The Board granted a 50 percent rating for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), but no higher, based on the use of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy.

The Board granted service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities based on a private opinion that cited medical literature supporting the link between PTSD, tinnitus, and OSA.

The appeal pertaining to the claim for service connection for right sciatic nerve radiculopathy is dismissed, and initial ratings for bilateral hearing loss and bronchial asthma are denied. The remaining claims are remanded.

The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, namely unspecified depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder, but denied increased ratings for left shoulder glenohumeral joint dislocation and obstructive sleep apnea. The claim for chronic headaches was remanded.

The Veteran's unspecified anxiety disorder is granted service connection. The remaining claims are remanded for further development.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea to correct a pre-decisional duty-to-assist error related to an inadequate medical opinion.

The appeal for service connection for type 2 diabetes mellitus, obstructive sleep apnea, and hepatitis B with cirrhosis of the liver was dismissed due to the Veteran's death during the pendency of the appeal.

The appeal concerning entitlement to service connection for cervical strain and lumbosacral strain is dismissed due to multiple pending appeals under both the legacy review system and the modernized review system.

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