Sleep apnea decisions — 2026

The Board has determined that there are insufficient positive evidence in support of the Veteran's claims for service connection, and therefore, remands are warranted to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of his sleep apnea, cervical strain, and lumbosacral strain.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) on a secondary basis to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD with major depressive disorder and insomnia, with obesity as an intermediate step. The decision is based on evidence that suggests the OSA was caused by the obesity resulting from the service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for GERD and OSA are being remanded due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors. The RO must provide a TERA addendum opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's GERD and his active service, including Agent Orange exposure. Additionally, an addendum opinion is needed on whether the Veteran's service-connected tinnitus or major depressive disorder aggravates his OSA.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis, lumbosacral spine, with intervertebral disc disease, post lumbar fusion is rated at a 20 percent evaluation.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence was received to readjudicate the claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression, anxiety, and night tremors. The Veteran's claims are being remanded for further action.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether his PTSD aggravated his OSA. The AOJ is instructed to obtain an addendum opinion from a qualified clinician addressing this issue.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates prior to November 22, 2023, for pansinusitis and allergic rhinitis have been granted. The claims for service connection for migraine headaches and obstructive sleep apnea with asthma were also granted with an effective date of June 21, 2016.

The Veteran's bilateral knee strain, lumbosacral strain, and migraine and tension headaches are found to have had their onset during service. Service connection is granted for these conditions.,The Veteran's preexisting bilateral pes cavus was aggravated by active duty service. Service connection is granted for this condition.

The Veteran's service connection claims for intervertebral disc syndrome, lumbosacral strain, degenerative disc disease, and post traumatic osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine, as well as left and right lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, are granted with effective dates starting from August 12, 2022.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his sleep apnea with asthma was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 50 percent, as there were no findings of chronic respiratory failure or tracheostomy required for such a rating.

The appeal for erectile dysfunction is dismissed as the February 2025 rating decision was not final.,Entitlement to a higher rating for asthma is denied. The Veteran's asthma does not meet or approximate the criteria for a greater than 60 percent disability rating.,Service connection for OSA is remanded due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error, specifically the need for an adequate VA medical opinion.

The Board has denied service connection for left foot disability, right foot disability, fibromyalgia, and sleep apnea. The claim for an initial compensable evaluation for HPV was also denied.

The Board has granted service connection for OSA secondary to PTSD, but has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension and GERD.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical spine degenerative disc disease with degenerative arthritis and strain, lumbosacral spine degenerative arthritis with strain, and right upper extremity cervical radiculopathy on a direct basis.,Service connection is also granted for right lower extremity radiculopathy as secondary to the Veteran's now service-connected lumbosacral spine degenerative arthritis with strain.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's sleep apnea is not related to his service or service-connected disabilities. The evidence did not support a causal relationship between the Veteran's sleep apnea and his service-connected tinnitus and depressive disorder.

The Veteran's left hip strain and lumbosacral strain are rated at specific levels, with the left hip strain receiving a maximum rating of 40 percent. The lumbosacral strain is also rated at 20 percent for the period from June 1, 2023 to March 1, 2024.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error, and will require a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's lower back condition is related to his active duty service or secondary to his service-connected knee disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for anemia was denied, as there is no current evidence of the condition. The initial rating for OSA was also denied due to lack of respiratory failure or cor pulmonale requiring a tracheostomy. The TDIU claim was denied because the Veteran's disabilities do not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and pulmonary arterial hypertension are remanded due to a duty-to-assist error. The AOJ must obtain medical opinions addressing the relationship between these conditions and his service-connected PTSD, as well as whether they were caused or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a secondary service connection theory of entitlement for obstructive sleep apnea, as it was raised in the pre-decisional record and is now associated with a service-connected condition (major depressive disorder).