Sleep apnea decisions — 2026

The Board has granted service connection for Obstructive Sleep Apnea and found that the Veteran's left knee scar is not compensable. The decision supports the opinion from a private physician who concluded that the OSA was secondary to his service-connected GERD and psychiatric disorder.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to errors in pre-decisional duty to assist, and a need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board denied service connection for asthma, COPD, and sleep apnea as there is no evidence of a causal relationship between the Veteran's current conditions and his active duty service.,There was insufficient evidence to support a nexus between the Veteran's current disabilities (asthma, COPD, and sleep apnea) and his active duty service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea was incurred during active duty service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, thus denying his claim for TDIU.

The Board has granted restoration of a 20% disability rating for lumbosacral strain, effective October 28, 2023. The claim for service connection for respiratory disabilities including obstructive sleep apnea and allergic rhinitis is remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected persistent depressive disorder causes or aggravates her obstructive sleep apnea. The VA must obtain a new opinion from an appropriate clinician.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including residual sprain of the left ankle, sleep apnea, left hip trochanteric pain syndrome with arthritis, left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome with arthritis, and erectile dysfunction, have been granted. A 10 percent rating has also been assigned for a right shoulder scar.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error regarding specific TERA exposures. The AOJ is instructed to clarify the Veteran's conceded TERA exposures and obtain addendum opinions considering those exposures.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, low back disability, and right knee disability due to insufficient evidence or inadequate reasoning in previous decisions.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of May 12, 2021 for the assignment of a 70 percent disability rating for recurrent major depressive disorder is granted. The Veteran's claims for increased ratings are denied.

The Veteran's appeal for a compensable rating for chronic diarrhea has been dismissed as the decision was not final and appealable.,The appeals for higher ratings for lumbosacral strain, cervical strain, right ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain, and tinnitus have all been dismissed due to untimely filing of the Notice of Disagreement (NOD).,Service connection for right ear hearing loss has not been established as there is no evidence of a current disability meeting VA's definition of hearing loss.

The Veteran's Parkinson disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with emphysema, and obstructive sleep apnea are all found to be service-connected due to exposure to toxic chemicals during military service. The Veteran's cause of death was respiratory failure resulting from his service-connected COPD.

The Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder, combined with other disabilities independently rated at 60 percent or more, qualifies him for special monthly compensation (SMC) due to housebound status effective April 27, 2018.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is related to his military service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has denied service connection for sleep apnea and lumbosacral strain, finding that the evidence does not support a link to active duty service.

The Board has granted service connection for a left knee disability and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability and PTSD.

The Board has denied an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for obstructive sleep apnea and has remanded the issues regarding lumbar spine disability, sciatic nerve radiculopathy, bladder and/or bowel disorder related to the lumbar spine disability, and service connection for PFB. The Veteran is required to provide additional evidence or undergo examinations as directed.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of evidence linking sleep apnea directly to service, but acknowledges that it may be related to service-connected PTSD and tinnitus. The Veteran's claim will be reviewed again with a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for sleep apnea syndrome with bronchial asthma has been dismissed because the Veteran withdrew his appeal prior to the Board hearing.