Sleep apnea decisions — 2026

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee condition and lumbosacral strain are being remanded due to inadequate medical opinions. The VA will schedule new examinations to provide a proper opinion on the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension on a secondary basis to tinnitus, and remanded the remaining issues due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for OSA, finding that it is at least as likely as not caused by the Veteran's obesity due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service connection claim for obstructive sleep apnea is remanded due to the enactment of the PACT Act, which requires a VA examination and opinion regarding the relationship between his in-service participation in toxic risk exposure activity (TERA) and his current sleep apnea disability.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea (OSA) as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder with cocaine use disorder, finding that PTSD aggravates OSA.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for OSA was granted on September 29, 2016, due to an in-service toxic exposure risk activity (TERA). The effective date is set at this time as it aligns with the earliest date of claim and the date entitlement arose.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea status post UPPP, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis is related to his in-service condition. Service connection was denied for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied service connection for lumbosacral strain with scoliosis, left knee condition (osteoarthritis), and right knee condition (osteoarthritis) as the evidence did not support a finding of in-service onset or aggravation.,Service connection was also not granted on a secondary basis due to lack of established service connection for lumbosacral strain with scoliosis.

The Board has denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and remanded the claim for service connection for a migraine headache disability.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II. The decision is based on evidence showing that obesity, an intermediate step between the Veteran's service-connected diabetes and OSA, was caused or aggravated by his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder caused him to become obese, which in turn led to his obstructive sleep apnea. As a result, the claim for secondary service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is granted.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as secondary to his service-connected right knee disability, with obesity serving as an intermediate step.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and remanded the issues of initial disability rating for left knee condition and service connection for sleep apnea due to inadequate examination reports.

The Board has granted service connection for migraines as secondary to PTSD, and remanded the claims of service connection for asthma, sleep apnea, and hypertension due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral knee strain with osteoarthritis, lumbosacral strain, and lower extremity radiculopathy as secondary to lumbosacral strain due to a lack of consideration of continuity of symptoms since separation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's Obstructive Sleep Apnea is secondary to his service-connected Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has vacated the previous remands and dismissed the appeals for a compensable evaluation for right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome and an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for service-connected lumbosacral strain due to delays in processing the Veteran's request to withdraw the appeals.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is related to his service-connected post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and the Board has granted service connection for OSA on a secondary basis.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea is denied as there is no competent evidence of a current diagnosis or treatment related to this condition during his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient opinions regarding whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is related to service or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD, and because of a need for an examination under the PACT Act.