Sleep apnea decisions — 2026

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at a 40 percent evaluation, effective from the date of the May 2013 rating decision.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's symptoms began during service and have persisted since then.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for secondary service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that it is proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected schizoaffective disorder, bilateral knee, and thoracolumbar spine conditions.

The Board has dismissed the claims for service connection for sleep apnea and asthma. The Veteran's asthma is denied as there is no evidence it began during or was caused by his active service.

The appeal for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is dismissed. The cases of rating in excess of 40 percent for a low back condition, and ratings in excess of 20 percent for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy are remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions and notification issues. The AOJ must obtain addendum medical opinions addressing whether the Veteran's back, hip, and leg disabilities are directly related to his active service or secondary to a previously service-connected condition.

The Veteran's alcohol use disorder is granted as secondary to service-connected PTSD.,The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is granted as secondary to weight gain caused by his service-connected psychiatric disability, which includes PTSD and alcohol use disorder.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's OSA and her service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder, as well as the presence of any other sleep disorders.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as due to herbicide agent exposure under the PACT Act. The claims for obstructive sleep apnea and headaches are denied.

The Veteran's left lower extremity radiculopathy has been rated at 10 percent since December 28, 2016. The Board denied an increased rating for this condition from that date to September 9, 2022.

The Board has granted service connection for fibromyalgia, finding that the Veteran's symptoms began during active service. Service connection was denied for sleep apnea and diabetes.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea, right upper extremity neurological disability, and left upper extremity neurological disability are not service-connected.,The Veteran's service-connected left ear hearing loss does not warrant a compensable rating.

The Board has granted service connection for unspecified anxiety disorder and obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to service-connected bilateral ankle disabilities, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are at least as likely as not related to his in-service experiences. The decision also denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been submitted, allowing the claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea to include as secondary to PTSD to be readjudicated. However, the claim is still pending as a remand is required due to an inadequate VA examination.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea due to errors in duty-to-assist. The RO must obtain private medical records, verify the Veteran's reserve component service, and provide a VA examination.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that it began during his active duty service from 1987 to 1990.

The Board has found new and relevant evidence submitted since the November 2019 rating decision, which includes medical records showing a diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea. The AOJ must now consider whether this evidence supports granting service connection for sleep apnea.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and entitlement to a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities. The Board found that there was no evidence of in-service onset or association with service, and concluded that the Veteran's current sleep apnea is not related to his PTSD. For the TDIU claim, the Board determined that the Veteran's service-connected conditions did not prevent him from securing and maintaining gainful employment.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain and Parkinson's disease are related to active service. The claims for COPD, psoriasis, and congestive heart failure are remanded due to a duty-to-assist error.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbar strain to include thoracolumbar and lumbosacral strain, cervical spine condition, spondylosis, degenerative disk disease, and radiculopathy (spine disabilities). The Board found that these conditions are related to the Veteran's injury during his active duty.