Sleep apnea decisions — 2026

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbosacral strain was granted due to the receipt of new and relevant evidence, including lay statements, VA and non-VA medical treatment records, and a private etiology opinion. The Board found that the Veteran had a current disability (lumbosacral strain) and that his back injury during service is related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Lumbosacral strain, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are related to her military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection have been denied. The issues of service connection for disorders of the right and left hands, sleep apnea, an acquired psychiatric disorder (other than PTSD), right lower extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, a disorder of both feet, bilateral shoulder disorder, bilateral knee disorder, chronic headache disorder, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and gastroesophageal reflux disease have been remanded. The Veteran's appeal for TDIU has also been remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection for various conditions have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support granting a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss, or establishing service connection for cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), deviated septum, carpal tunnel syndrome of the upper extremities, acquired psychiatric disorder, heart disorder, hypertension, sleep apnea, and peripheral vascular disease.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates because she did not continuously pursue her claims within one year of the October 2023 rating decision granting service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have prevented him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment since May 1, 2015.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected psychiatric and musculoskeletal disabilities, effective January 25, 2019. As a result, the appeal is deemed moot.

The Veteran's sleep disturbances and obstructive sleep apnea are found to be related to his service-connected PTSD, thus service connection is granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability at any time during the pendency or in close proximity to filing the service-connection claim.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that his current condition is not related to his military service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection for sleep apnea.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is proximately due to her service-connected disabilities, and the Board has granted secondary service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with DDD and IVDS is granted a 40% disability rating from March 2, 2014.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar sprain with ankylosing spondylitis, cervical spine strain, and tension headaches have rendered her unable to obtain or maintain a substantially gainful occupation consistent with her education and work history prior to August 30, 2022.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted from September 1, 2008 to May 20, 2015 due to his service-connected disabilities making him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations and opinions provided do not comply with the remand directives. Therefore, another remand is necessary to obtain the requested retrospective estimates for the Veteran's right shoulder and lumbar spine disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal of the denial of service connection for a sleep disorder other than obstructive sleep apnea, to include insomnia, is dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to outstanding medical records and scheduling of a VA examination. The issues include initial ratings for various spinal conditions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU as there is no evidence that his service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.