Sleep apnea decisions — 2026

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, right knee condition, and sleep apnea (to include as secondary to PTSD). The claims were dismissed due to untimely Notice of Disagreement filings.

The Veteran's appeal for a disability rating of 30 percent for migraine headaches has been granted. The appeals for service connection for left and right foot plantar fasciitis, as well as obstructive sleep apnea secondary to PTSD with depressive disorder, have all been withdrawn.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a diagnosis of depression and therefore denied his claim for service connection. The claims for OSA and heart condition are remanded due to inadequate medical opinions regarding secondary service connection.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable evaluation for service-connected hypertension was denied.,Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) was also denied.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and fibromyalgia caused his obesity, which was a substantial factor in causing his OSA. The Board granted service connection for OSA as secondary to the service-connected PTSD and fibromyalgia.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to inadequate medical opinions in the original decision. The issues of service connection are being addressed.

The Veteran's headaches and OSA are granted as secondary to his service-connected cervical spine degenerative arthritis.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and initial compensable ratings for his service-connected conditions have been denied. The Board found that there were no reliable test results to support a higher rating for the bilateral hearing loss disability, and the Veteran's migraine headaches did not meet the criteria for a 30 percent rating.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date prior to September 30, 2014, for service connection of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) as it was a freestanding claim and not subject to challenge through a freestanding earlier effective date claim.

The Board has determined that the VA opinions obtained in October 2022, August 2023, and November 2024 did not address secondary service connection based on aggravation. Therefore, the claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea must be remanded to obtain an adequate medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected PTSD and sinusitis have aggravated his sleep apnea.

The Veteran's claims for service connection on multiple conditions have been remanded due to the submission of new evidence after a prior denial. The Board finds that VA examinations and medical opinions are necessary to properly determine entitlement to service connection.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for anemia and fatty liver have been dismissed.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, obstructive sleep apnea, and heart disability are remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty-to-assist error, and requests an addendum opinion from an appropriate clinician to determine the likely etiology of the Veteran's OSA.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), finding that his symptoms began in service and are related to military service.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed for his claim of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea. The Board found that the issue had been resolved by a prior rating decision granting service connection and assigning a 50% disability rating.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea, tinnitus, left foot hallux valgus, and bilateral hearing loss on a direct basis.,Service connection is established for these conditions as the evidence is at least evenly balanced regarding their onset in service.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, a thoracolumbar spine disability (lumbar strain), left knee disability, and right knee disability. The conditions are deemed to be directly related to the veteran's military service.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted as he meets the schedular criteria for TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities, and his inability to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claim for SMC is granted, effective February 1, 2021. The decision is based on the combination of his service-connected PTSD and other disabilities that independently rate at least 60 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) and Hypertension (HTN), both found to be secondary to the appellant's service-connected PTSD with Major Depressive Disorder and Alcohol Use Disorder.