Sleep apnea decisions — 2026

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that his current diagnosis is related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty to assist error, requiring an addendum opinion on whether service-connected bilateral pes planus with calcaneal spurs and/or right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome with osteoarthritis and left knee instability worsen the Veteran's lower back pain with degenerative disc disease.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and a need for further medical examination. The issues include right foot osteoarthritis, cervical spondylosis, thoracic spondylosis and lumbosacral region disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, left leg neuropathy, and right leg neuropathy.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for lumbosacral strain and dismissed his appeal for a compensable rating for sinusitis.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and a skin condition due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors. The Veteran's OSA claim will be reconsidered with new evidence, while his skin condition claim requires additional development including obtaining private medical records.

The Board has found a pre-decisional duty to assist error and remanded the case for an aggravation opinion on whether sleep apnea is aggravated by service-connected PTSD, as well as an evaluation of the impact of toxic exposure from burn pits.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are granted a 50% rating, effective from March 27, 2024. Service connection for sciatica of the bilateral lower extremities and chronic reactive gastropathy (stomach injury) is remanded. Service connection for benign duodenal mucosa remains denied.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) at the housebound rate was denied as he does not meet the criteria for a total disability rating based on one service-connected condition, and his conditions do not independently warrant SMC.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is at least as likely as not related to his service, granting his claim for service connection.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to duty-to-assist errors and the need for additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is being remanded for a determination on whether it is secondary to his service-connected major depressive disorder with substance use disorder and alcohol use disorder, as well as an evaluation of the aggravation claim.

The Veteran's appeal of the service connection for headaches was dismissed due to untimely filing. The issue of sleep apnea is remanded as a new VA examination is needed.

The Board has determined that the VA medical opinion provided prior to the November 2020 rating decision on appeal is inadequate and remands the case for a new examination and medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is related to service, including his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for OSA and assigned a 30 percent rating for chronic frontal sinusitis. The Veteran's migraines and tension headaches are also rated at the maximum allowable under VA guidelines.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea with asthma was denied in a final August 2014 rating decision. The effective date of the grant of service connection is September 28, 2018, which is the date the Veteran submitted an intent to file.

The Veteran's back, diabetes, and nerve disabilities are remanded for further development as the VA has not obtained all relevant records.

The Board has determined that the VA's failure to obtain an adequate medical opinion constituted a pre-decisional duty-to-assist error and thus remanded for further action.

The Board has decided to remand the claim for an increased rating for lumbosacral strain due to inadequate examination and failure to consider medication effects.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral blepharitis and corneal pannus, eczema, tinnitus, OSA, diabetes, left foot diabetic neuropathy, right foot diabetic neuropathy, migraine headaches, and hypertension was granted as of March 29, 2022. The effective date is set to the date of claim due to the Veteran's intent to file a claim prior to this date.

The Board has granted service connection for headaches and an initial rating of 40 percent for lumbosacral strain, effective April 26, 2020.