Sleep apnea decisions — 2026

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected musculoskeletal impairments and GERD, with obesity acting as an intermediate step.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for further review of the evidence. The Board is unable to determine if there was a factual increase in disability prior to the effective dates requested, or if service connection should be granted based on the current evidence.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a failure to provide proper notice of the right to a hearing before VA, and will need to address this issue.

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 Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss disability has been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.,The Veteran's claims for dermatitis and sleep apnea have been remanded to obtain additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected bilateral flat feet and lumbosacral strain have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for either condition.

The Board has granted service connection for left shoulder condition, left knee condition, lumbar spine condition (as secondary to left knee condition), right knee condition (as secondary to left knee condition), posttraumatic stress disorder, and obstructive sleep apnea (secondary to service-connected disabilities with obesity as an intermediary step).,The Board found the evidence persuasive in favor of granting service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral elbow disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and residuals of a neck injury have been granted. The claim for sleep apnea has been withdrawn.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes, OSA, and hypertension on a secondary basis to OSA. The diagnoses are related to the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain and disc herniation are granted service connection as they are related to his military service. His Crohn's disease and right knee disorder do not have a direct link to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions regarding his diagnosed conditions, including mental health disorders, gastrointestinal issues, respiratory problems, arthritis, neuropathy, sleep apnea, erectile dysfunction, and headaches. The examination will also address whether any of these conditions were caused or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board has determined that there were duty to assist errors prior to the March 2021 rating decision and remands the case for further development, including obtaining private treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

Service connection is granted for asthma and costochondritis, both found to have onset during service.,Service connection is denied for obstructive sleep apnea on a direct and secondary basis, as well as hypertension on all bases.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including sleep apnea and gout, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since December 12, 2017. The effective date for the TDIU is set at December 12, 2017.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is granted as secondary to his service-connected PTSD and TBI.

The Veteran's IBS and obstructive sleep apnea are granted as service connected, with the latter condition likely originating during active service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's sleep apnea, specifically whether it is related to service or caused by exposure to burn pits. The case will be returned for further examination and opinion.

The Board has dismissed the appeals because the Veteran died during the pendency of the appeal.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for postural dizziness, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and hypertension have been denied. The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of postural dizziness or OSA related to his military service, and there is no evidence linking his hypertension to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current sleep apnea disability is not incurred or caused by service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.