Sleep apnea decisions — 2026

The Board denied service connection for Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Low Back Disorder with Radiculopathy, finding that the conditions were not incurred in or related to service.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for chronic kidney disease is denied as his eGFR has not been below 30 mL/min/1.73 m2 or BUN and creatinine levels have not met the criteria for an increased rating.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings due to incomplete evidence and an error in satisfying a regulatory or statutory duty.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and low back disability due to a lack of adequate VA examinations and opinions. The AOJ must schedule the Veteran for appropriate VA examinations and obtain etiology opinions related to these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbosacral strain, left knee strain, right knee strain, and PTSD due to inadequate medical opinions. The TDIU claim is also being remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the other claims.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty to assist error, specifically failing to provide a VA examination related to the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea. The examiner is requested to determine if the condition had its onset in service and whether it is related to exposure to toxic environmental exposures during service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to his service-connected conditions, finding that he was not precluded from obtaining and/or maintaining gainful employment.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus and sleep apnea, finding no evidence of in-service exposure to herbicides or other causative factors.

The Veteran's need for aid and attendance is due to his service-connected PTSD, which restricts his ability to manage medications, handle finances, and prepare meals. The evidence also indicates that he requires assistance with activities of daily living due to his service-connected lumbar spine condition.,The Veteran does not meet the criteria for SMC based on loss of use of any extremity as none of his service-connected conditions result in such impairment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to credibility issues with his testimony and lack of supporting medical evidence. The case is being returned for additional development, including obtaining records from the Army National Guard period, left knee surgery records, clarification on TERA exposure details, and a new opinion regarding prostate cancer.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy due to insufficient evidence in the record.

The Board has granted service connection for Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected cervical stenosis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea due to herbicide exposure, finding that there is no positive association between his diagnosed sleep apnea and his in-service exposure to herbicides.

The Board denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and hypertension. The Veteran's claim for earlier effective date for hypertension was also denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected PTSD aggravated his nonservice-connected OSA, and therefore grants entitlement to service connection for OSA as secondary to PTSD.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's sleep apnea and his service, particularly related to in-service exposure to asbestos or toxic exposures from his military occupational specialty.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for liposarcoma, finding that his cancer is related to his service at the World Trade Center site following September 11, 2001. The decision resolves doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee disability is found to have caused his obesity, which in turn caused his obstructive sleep apnea. His migraine headaches are also found to be related to his service-connected right knee disability and are rated at the maximum allowable under VA regulations.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea was found to be at least as likely as not etiologically linked to injuries and events during his active military service, leading to the grant of service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) due to a relative equipoise in the evidence, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to his military service.