Sleep apnea decisions — 2026

The Board has granted service connection for OSA as secondary to PTSD, with obesity as an intermediate step. The Veteran's chronic low back and neck disabilities are also found to be related to his service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) has been remanded due to the submission of new and relevant evidence. The AOJ will readjudicate the claim in the first instance.

The Board has granted an initial evaluation of 50 percent for the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea, effective September 14, 2022. The decision concludes that the pre-aggravation level of disability was noncompensable (0 percent) due to obesity related to service-connected generalized anxiety disorder.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's service connection for sleep apnea should be remanded due to a duty-to-assist error in obtaining an adequate opinion regarding whether his sleep apnea is related to his service-connected Barrett's esophagus.

The Board has decided that service connection for obstructive sleep apnea should be remanded due to a procedural issue regarding the right to request a hearing before the RO.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea secondary to PTSD. The claim of entitlement to service connection for GERD is remanded due to a duty-to-assist error.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for earlier effective dates for service connection and initial ratings for obstructive sleep apnea, pseudofolliculitis barbae, and acquired psychiatric disorder. The appeal for valvular heart disease was also dismissed due to lack of jurisdiction.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbosacral strain is due to an in-service motor vehicle accident and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that there were duty to assist errors prior to the rating decision on appeal and has remanded the case for further action.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty to assist error, specifically failing to obtain VA opinions addressing whether the Veteran's OSA is aggravated by his service-connected musculoskeletal conditions and whether it was caused by a 1996 complaint of being 'always tired' during service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions, including bilateral flatfoot, moderate degenerative disc disease at L1-L2 and lower lumbar spine facet joint osteoarthritis, tinnitus, unspecified anxiety disorder, bronchial asthma, sinusitis, and sleep apnea, do not meet the criteria for service connection as they are not shown to have been incurred or aggravated by active service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of consideration of the Veteran's reports of back pain and strain during service, as well as his current symptoms. The case will be returned for further examination and opinion.

The Board has granted service connection for Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) secondary to Right Ankle Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD) with Sinus Tarsi, as the evidence shows that the Veteran's right ankle DJD caused weight gain leading to obesity and OSA.

The Veteran's OSA was incurred during his military service and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete records from the Veteran's Air Force Reserve and Wisconsin Air National Guard duty.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and need for further medical opinions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is caused by or related to his service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder with depressive symptoms, and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's right elbow bursitis has been granted a rating of 20 percent, but the claim for service connection for sleep apnea is remanded due to insufficient medical opinions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is secondary to her service-connected asthma and allergic rhinitis. The VA must obtain a new opinion addressing both causation and aggravation.

The Veteran's TDIU was based on multiple service-connected disabilities, and he does not meet the legal criteria for payment of compensation at the housebound rate under the regulations due to his service-connected conditions.