Sleep apnea decisions — 2026

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for his acquired psychiatric disability, radiculopathy of the right upper extremity (RUE), radiculopathy of the left upper extremity (LUE), or neck disability prior to June 2, 2022. The earlier effective date claim was also denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea had its onset during active-duty service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 50% rating for sleep apnea was denied as the evidence did not show that his date of claim (July 31, 2023) postdated the date entitlement arose.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for tremors, unspecified, is being remanded due to procedural errors in obtaining necessary opinions and considering all relevant aspects of his August 2024 statement.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea has been reopened due to the submission of new and relevant evidence. The Board finds that the Veteran's current diagnosis of left ear hearing loss is not related to service, including noise exposure during service.,Service connection for right ear hearing loss was denied as there is no evidence showing a compensable degree of hearing loss within the applicable presumptive period.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, including as secondary to his service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder with alcohol use disorder. The evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran's OSA was incurred during service or is related to his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU for the period from January 1, 2020 to September 30, 2023 due to service-connected disabilities preventing him from maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for pseudofolliculitis barbae with scarring prior to February 7, 2025 is denied. The evidence does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under the applicable VA rating schedule.,Service connection for diabetes mellitus, kidney failure and urinary frequency, bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, obstructive sleep apnea, and vertigo are all denied. There is no credible evidence linking these conditions to service or any presumptive exposure basis.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded due to errors in the pre-decisional file, including a lack of earnings statements from SSA and missing vocational rehabilitation records. The AOJ will need to correct these issues before making a final determination.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is found to cause his headaches, and the Veteran's allergic rhinitis is granted a non-compensable rating. The Veteran's intervertebral disc syndrome remains at a 10 percent rating, but the issue of an increased disability rating for this condition is remanded. Service connection for sleep apnea is also remanded.

The Veteran's bilateral hip and knee conditions, sleep apnea, diabetes mellitus type II, and plantar fasciitis, pes planus, and hammer toes are all granted service connection as they are related to his military service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is related to in-service noise exposure and granted service connection.,Obstructive sleep apnea began during active service and was granted service connection.,Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and hiatal hernia are both linked to service, with symptoms beginning around the 1980s.,Service connection for diverticular disease and diverticulosis is remanded due to lack of direct evidence.,Prostate cancer is related to in-service toxic exposure risk activities involving hydrazine.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for erectile dysfunction, obstructive sleep apnea, and peripheral neuropathy of the right foot and left leg due to duty-to-assist errors in prior opinions.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is related to his service-connected major depressive disorder, and thus remands for further examination and opinion.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty to assist error, specifically regarding an inadequate opinion on whether the Veteran's OSA is aggravated by his service-connected diabetes and psychiatric disabilities.

The Veteran's service connection claims for hypertension, left elbow pain, lumbar spine disorder, OSA, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, and UTI have been reopened due to the submission of new and relevant evidence. The claims are now pending for further adjudication.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for lumbosacral strain is remanded due to a discrepancy in the address provided by the Veteran and the evidence of record. The correct current address must be identified, and the Veteran should be given an opportunity to attend a VA examination.

The Veteran's sarcoidosis with obstructive sleep apnea has been granted an initial rating of 100 percent, resolving his claim for increased disability.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for prostate cancer and sleep apnea is remanded due to inadequate development of exposure claims.

The Board denied service connection for Obstructive Sleep Apnea, finding that the evidence did not support a causal relationship between the condition and service or service-connected PTSD.

The Board has denied service connection for insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, hearing loss, and sleep apnea. The Veteran's claim for an increased rating of hyperthyroidism is remanded.