Sleep apnea decisions — 2026

The Board has granted service connection for Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) as being proximately due to the Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea had its onset during his honorable service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal for the reduction of his disability rating for narcolepsy from 10 percent to 0 percent and for service connection for sleep apnea was dismissed because it originated from a prohibited concurrent election under the Appeals Modernization Act.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea has been granted due to the submission of new and relevant evidence. The claim for lower back condition is also granted, with a remand for further examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for OSA and GAD are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the relationship between her service-connected disabilities and these conditions.

The Board found that the evidence did not show an actual improvement in the Veteran's conditions, and thus denied the reduction requests for his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability, finding that there is continuity of symptomatology from his in-service injury to his current diagnosis. The appeal was also reopened due to new and material evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected knee and ankle disabilities are found to have caused obesity, which in turn caused his obstructive sleep apnea. His hypertension is not considered a compensable disability due to lack of qualifying history.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea should be remanded due to a duty-to-assist error. The VA examiner did not provide adequate opinions regarding both direct and secondary theories of service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension as aggravated by service-connected migraine headaches and for obstructive sleep apnea, both of which had their initial onset during active service.

The Board found that the severance of service connection for central sleep apnea was improper and restored it effective as of January 1, 2025.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, sinusitis, right lower extremity radiculopathy, hypertension, chronic diarrhea (IBS), and sleep apnea with asthma have all been denied. The effective dates for these conditions are September 1, 2022.,An earlier effective date of September 1, 2023, has been granted for the award of service connection for hypertension, a bilateral knee disorder, and a bilateral ankle disorder.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, cervical strain, erectile dysfunction, lumbosacral strain, and pseudofolliculitis barbae have all been denied. The Veteran has not submitted new and relevant evidence to support his claims.

The Veteran's erectile dysfunction is rated noncompensably (0%) due to the absence of penile deformity.,The Veteran's cervical spine strain is rated 10% due to forward flexion limited to 35 degrees with a combined range of motion of 295 degrees.

The Veteran's cervical strain with degenerative arthritis is related to her military service.,The Veteran's OSA was caused by her service-connected anxiety with depressive features and panic disorder (previously rated as panic disorder, agoraphobia with somatic symptoms disorder).

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, and sleep apnea due to inadequate examinations and potential exposure to toxic substances during military service.

The Board has granted service connection for coronary artery disease, heart failure and heart murmur, sleep apnea, and right leg peripheral vascular disease due to toxic exposure in service. The appeal is granted.

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

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection for OSA due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The AOJ will consider any additional evidence and schedule the Veteran for a VA examination.