Sleep apnea decisions — 2026

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted as the condition had its onset in, or is otherwise related to, military service.

The Board has granted service connection for insomnia disorder and OSA, finding that both conditions had their onset during the Veteran's active duty service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral pes planus and obstructive sleep apnea, as well as remanded the claims of left ankle, right knee, left knee, right hip, and left hip disabilities.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection, while the issue of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, respiratory disorder, OSA, brain aneurysm, and gout have been remanded due to insufficient evidence of in-service stressors.,There is no credible evidence supporting the Veteran's reported in-service stressors.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability evaluation based upon individual unemployability (TDIU) from January 18, 2017, forward was denied as his service-connected disabilities alone are not of sufficient severity to produce unemployability.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased disability rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis is denied.,The Veteran's appeal for an increased disability rating in excess of 10 percent for hemorrhoids is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The appeal has been dismissed as the appellant requested to withdraw the appeal before a hearing was held.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) was denied in a final rating decision on June 19, 2023. The effective date of the grant of service connection is October 8, 2024.

The Board has remanded the case due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors and insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease is not manifested by flexion functionally limited to less than 60 degrees, with muscle spasms or guarding severe enough to result in an abnormal gait or abnormal spinal contour. The Veteran's left lower extremity femoral nerve radiculopathy and sciatic nerve radiculopathy are both manifested by no more than mild incomplete paralysis.,The criteria for establishing entitlement to an evaluation in excess of 10 percent disabling for lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease have not been met. The Veteran's left lower extremity femoral nerve radiculopathy and sciatic nerve radiculopathy are both manifested by no more than mild incomplete paralysis.

The Board has granted service connection for OSA as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected left ankle strain, left knee strain and bilateral pes planus with obesity as an intermediate step. The decision is based on a finding that the service-connected disabilities caused or aggravated the OSA.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, right ear hearing loss, lumbosacral degenerative arthritis, degenerative disc disease and strain, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy have been granted service connection. The Veteran is entitled to a noncompensable rating for his right ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for sleep apnea was dismissed because the Notice of Disagreement (NOD) was not timely filed within one year from the date of the rating decision notification letter.

The Board has granted service connection for erectile dysfunction, obstructive sleep apnea, and hypertension. These conditions are found to be proximately due or the result of service-connected right ankle sprain, sinusitis, and sleep apnea, respectively.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder, with obesity serving as an intermediate step.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to major depressive with alcohol use disorder and for vertigo, both of which the Veteran claims are related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including major depressive disorder, left shoulder arthritis, right ankle and knee conditions, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment consistent with his educational and occupational history.

The Board has granted secondary service connection for the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea, finding that her bilateral hip disability caused her to become obese and obesity was a substantial factor in causing her sleep apnea.

The Veteran's claims for recurrent sleep disability (including sleep apnea), recurrent right upper extremity neurological disability, and recurrent left upper extremity neurological disability are denied. The Board has remanded the issues of increased ratings for service-connected right shoulder strain residuals, right sacroiliitis with limitation of flexion, a compensable rating for right sacroiliitis with limitation of extension, and a compensable rating for right sacroiliitis with limitation of abduction.