Sleep apnea decisions — 2026

The Veteran's OSA, which was permanently aggravated by service-connected PTSD, is now rated at 50 percent, effective from April 15, 2015.

The Veteran's bowel perforation disability is remanded for a VA examination to determine its etiology.,The Veteran's ulcerative colitis and obstructive sleep apnea disabilities are remanded for a VA examination to determine their etiologies.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, as it is unclear whether his condition is caused or aggravated by his service-connected musculoskeletal disabilities and obesity. The AOJ will need to provide a VA examination to clarify these issues.

The Veteran's TDIU and DEA eligibility are granted effective January 9, 2017. The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected back disability prevented him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment since May 2, 2008.

The Board has granted service connection for moderate persistent reactive airway disease without complication. The claims for sleep apnea, hypertension (high blood pressure), and traumatic brain injury are remanded due to the failure to obtain relevant VA treatment records.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is found to have begun during active service and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is caused by his service-connected arteriosclerotic heart disease and psychiatric disability, leading to a grant of service connection for this condition.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of adequate medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's sleep apnea and his military service, specifically herbicide agent exposure. The AOJ is instructed to obtain an addendum VA medical opinion from an appropriate clinician.

The Board denied service connection for sinus condition, left ear hearing loss, right ear hearing loss, and sleep apnea as there was no current disability related to these conditions during the pendency of the claim. The Veteran's self-reported symptoms were not supported by medical evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date of September 8, 2023, for the award of service connection for OSA due to the lack of a current disability prior to this date.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbosacral strain (claimed as back condition) was received within a year of the intent to file, and thus an effective date earlier than January 1, 2024, is denied.

The Board denied an initial disability rating in excess of 50 percent for the service-connected obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) from August 2, 2021, as the evidence did not show chronic respiratory failure or cor pulmonale requiring a tracheostomy.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as secondary to his service-connected post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), alcohol use disorder, major depressive disorder (MDD), and insomnia.

The Board denied service connection for both hypertension and sleep apnea as there was no competent evidence of current diagnoses or a link to service.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for his award of service-connected compensation for obstructive sleep apnea is denied. The Board also found a need to remand the issue of an increased rating for sleep apnea due to a failure to obtain certain medical records.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) has been reopened due to the submission of new and relevant evidence. The case is being remanded for further adjudication on the merits.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and hypertension as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral knee disability, with obesity serving as an intermediate step.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right leg disability and back disability are not incurred in the line of duty due to his own willful misconduct, resulting in denial of service connection for both conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for obesity and obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected back, left hip, left knee and left lower extremity radiculopathy disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, left ankle condition, left shoulder condition, right shoulder condition, left wrist condition, right wrist condition, and left knee condition. The Veteran's sleep apnea is also found to be related to his military service.