Sleep apnea decisions — 2026

The Veteran's Obstructive Sleep Apnea is remanded for further review, including consideration of potential service connection based on exposure to burn pits during military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding the onset and etiology of the Veteran's low back disability, including arthritis. The claims for psoriasis as secondary to the low back disability are also being remanded.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as secondary to his service-connected major depressive disorder, lumbosacral strain, bilateral plantar fasciitis, and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy. The private clinician provided a medical opinion supporting this finding.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for arthritis of the left knee was denied. The Board found that there is no evidence showing a current diagnosis or functional loss related to this condition.,For PTSD, the Veteran received an increased rating from 70% to 100%, effective January 17, 2025. This decision also granted initial ratings of 50% for migraine headaches and 100% for hypertension.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating of 60 percent disabled for seborrheic dermatitis from May 28, 2010, to December 4, 2024, was granted. The claim for a rating in excess of 60 percent disabled for seborrheic dermatitis since December 4, 2024, and the claim for an initial compensable rating for rosacea were denied.

The Veteran's OSA is granted as secondary to obesity caused by his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The claims for bilateral hearing loss and migraines are remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinions and failure to consider theories of entitlement, including secondary service connection for OSA related to low back strain. The Veteran's weight gain is also being considered under the PACT Act.

The Veteran's migraines are rated at a maximum of 50 percent from September 2, 2021. The Veteran's sleep apnea is granted as incurred in service.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of the increased 40 percent rating for lumbosacral strain is denied as there is no persuasive evidence showing that the disability had been manifested by forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine to 30 degrees or less, or favorable ankyloses of the entire thoracolumbar spine prior to August 20, 2019.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection of Obstructive Sleep Apnea due to a duty to assist error and insufficient medical opinion.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is due to his service-connected hypothyroidism, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition as secondary to his service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for right ear hearing loss, OSA, and high blood pressure due to potential pre-service onset and/or military exposure. The claim for left ear hearing loss remains denied.

The Board has denied service connection for various conditions including depression, OSA, IBS, foot disorders, joint pain, muscle pain, asthma, headaches, eye disorders, ear disorder, sinus disorder, heart disorder, angina, and GERD. The Board found no evidence of a causal relationship between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for migraines, evaluation in excess of 10 percent for service-connected tinnitus, and compensable evaluation for service-connected asthma due to a lack of adequate medical examination reports.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for sleep apnea has been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's cause of death, a fatal motor vehicle accident, was not caused by or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities. The Board found the VA medical opinions more probative than the private medical opinion.

The Veteran's PTSD has been granted a 70 percent rating effective November 21, 2017. Additionally, the Veteran was granted TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's initial rating for obstructive sleep apnea is denied as it does not meet the criteria for a higher than 50 percent rating.,The Veteran's initial rating for chronic neck pain (neck disability) is denied as it does not meet the criteria for a higher than 20 percent rating.,The Veteran's increased rating for low back pain (back disability) is denied as it does not meet the criteria for a higher than 10 percent rating.,The Veteran's increased rating for left shoulder impingement (left shoulder disorder) is denied as it does not meet the criteria for a higher than 20 percent rating.,The Veteran's increased rating for right shoulder impingement (right shoulder disorder) is denied as it does not meet the criteria for a higher than 20 percent rating.,The Veteran's initial rating for deviated nasal septum is granted with a 10 percent rating.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on all issues are being remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an error in providing the Veteran with a pre-decisional hearing, and thus corrective action is required.