Sleep apnea decisions — 2026

The Board has remanded several issues for further evaluation, including right ankle traumatic arthritis, left foot fibromatosis, both right and left foot hypertrophic scars, migraine headaches, lumbosacral strain, and chronic cough.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA medical opinion and a failure to obtain Social Security Administration records.

The Board has determined that a VA examination and medical opinion are necessary to determine if the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is caused or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD. The case is being remanded for this purpose.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder, with obesity serving as an intermediate step.

The Veteran's PTSD, combined with his other service-connected disabilities (sleep apnea and back disability), meets the criteria for special monthly compensation at the housebound rate effective December 15, 2020.

The Board dismissed all appeals related to the Veteran's claims, including service connection for various conditions and a deferred issue of vertigo.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an effective date before May 15, 2015, for service connection of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) due to insufficient evidence linking OSA to his bilateral knee condition.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to January 14, 2019, for the award of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and a 100% rating for depressive disorder with anxious distress is denied. The Board found that the appropriate effective dates are January 14, 2019.

The Board has denied service connection for right and left ear hearing loss, sinusitis, TMJ, rosacea and herpetic whitlow, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to lack of current disability. The issues of rating higher than 10 percent for TMJ and rosacea and herpetic whitlow have been remanded.

The Veteran's service connection claims for TBI and migraines are denied, while the scar of the left cheek is granted. The remaining conditions (lumbosacral strain, right knee strain, and hypertension) do not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for back pain has been dismissed as the appeal was untimely filed.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral pes planus, chronic allergic rhinitis, obstructed sleep apnea (OSA), and urticaria are remanded due to procedural errors.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for allergic rhinitis and migraine headaches, but denied all other claims due to lack of evidence meeting VA standards for a current disability.

The Board has denied requests for earlier effective dates and compensable ratings for various service-connected conditions, but granted a TDIU from September 10, 2003.

The Veteran's kidney cancer residuals and sleep apnea are remanded for further review due to inadequate opinions in the January 2025 rating decision.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the remaining issues due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty-to-assist error and will need additional VA medical opinions regarding direct service connection and aggravation for secondary service connection.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected sleep apnea with asthma was denied as the current 50 percent rating adequately reflects the severity of his condition, which includes use of a CPAP machine and intermittent inhalational anti-inflammatory medication.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetes mellitus type II and bilateral diabetic polyneuropathy, result in significant limitations that necessitate regular aid and attendance. The Board has granted SMC based on the need for aid and attendance.

The appeal of the claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss is dismissed.,Service connection for hypertension and OSA are granted, with secondary service connection for insomnia disorder as secondary to OSA also being granted.,Service connection for rhinitis, sinusitis, cholecystectomy (gallbladder condition), nephrolithiasis (kidney stones), and a respiratory disability (including asthma and dyspnea) is granted.

The Board has dismissed the appeal as moot because service connection for obstructive sleep apnea was granted with an effective date of August 19, 2020.