Sleep apnea decisions — 2026

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for benign prostatic hypertrophy, diabetes mellitus type II (DMII), diverticulosis, and obstructive sleep apnea due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service or exposure to environmental hazards.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for left knee strain and lumbosacral strain were denied as his conditions did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under VA regulations.

The Veteran's service connection claims for headaches, memory loss as residuals of TBI, low back disability (lumbosacral strain), and right ankle disability (right ankle strain) have been granted. The claim for hypertension was denied.

The Veteran's sinusitis has been granted service connection and rated at 30 percent since June 5, 2024. Service connection for fibromyalgia is denied.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and service connection was denied. The left elbow disability is rated at 10 percent, but the Veteran does not meet criteria for a higher rating. Service connection for sleep apnea, headaches, bilateral knee disorder, right ankle disorder, right foot disorder, right elbow disorder, and bilateral wrist disorder were all denied.

The Veteran's service connection claims for prostate cancer residuals and obstructive sleep apnea are denied. The OSA claim is remanded due to a lack of an adequate opinion regarding its relationship to the Veteran's service-connected low back disability.

The Board denied a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for the Veteran's lumbosacral strain with chronic thoracic strain, finding that his condition did not meet the criteria for higher ratings based on forward flexion limited to 30 degrees or less or favorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine.

The Board has determined that the evidence is in approximate balance regarding whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is secondary to his service-connected depressive disorder with panic disorder. The claim for service connection for OSA as secondary to depressive disorder with panic disorder is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to obtain and/or maintain substantially gainful employment from January 1, 2017 to May 16, 2018.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a sleep disorder, including sleep apnea, finding that there is no current diagnosis of such condition and attributing his symptoms to his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate opinions on direct and secondary service connection for Obstructive Sleep Apnea. The Veteran's claim will be further developed with new medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, including as secondary to bilateral knee and hip conditions. The remand is due to inadequate medical opinions in previous decisions.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's respiratory disorder, specifically Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Restrictive Lung Disease, finding that it is proximately due to his obesity which was caused by his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating of his service-connected lumbar spine disability was denied. The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's symptoms of snoring and waking up gasping for air during service were later diagnosed as obstructive sleep apnea. The Board resolved reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is related to his service-connected allergic rhinitis, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for reduction of evaluation, service connection, and increased rating for generalized anxiety disorder with unspecified depressive disorder due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeal.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for OSA and PTSD are being remanded due to a duty-to-assist error. A VA examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted as secondary to his service-connected left shoulder pain and degenerative disc disease. Service connection for hypertension is denied. The ratings for cervical strain, lumbosacral strain, right lower extremity radiculopathy sciatic nerve, and right upper extremity radiculopathy lower radicular group are restored or maintained.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bipolar disorder and sleep apnea, finding that there is no evidence of these conditions during or recent to the pendency of his claim.