Sleep apnea decisions — 2026

The Veteran's claims for increased rating of insomnia disorder, service connection for left thumb disability, and service connection for OSA have all been denied as the Veteran failed to appear for necessary VA examinations without good cause.

The Board has remanded the case due to additional evidence being added after the October 2025 Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC). The Veteran was given an opportunity to waive AOJ review, but did not respond within the required timeframe. The claim will be returned for further consideration.

The Board denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as there was no evidence of its onset or causation in service, and the condition did not have a nexus to any service-connected disability.

The Board has granted service connection for a headache disability, but the case is remanded for further development regarding the Veteran's sleep disability.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as secondary to his service-connected depressive disorder with anxiety and adjustment disorder.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, finding that there is no evidence of a current disability during or within one year after service and that the condition did not begin in service. The Board also found that the Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disabilities are not related to his sleep apnea.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea with bronchitis is denied. The earliest date a supplemental claim was received was January 1, 2023.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is granted as service-connected. The Board has remanded the claim for Parkinson's disease due to a lack of evidence regarding exposure during service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an error in not obtaining a medical opinion regarding secondary service connection for sleep apnea and adjustment disorder with anxiety.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis, Hepatitis C and fatty liver, tinea versicolor with eczema, radiculopathy of the left and lower extremities, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since December 3, 2020. The Board granted an earlier effective date for TDIU based on this evidence.

The Board has denied service connection for various conditions including bilateral hearing loss, left knee disability, lower back disability, sleep apnea, depression, anxiety disorder, insomnia, head pain (also claimed as sores on the head), and flat feet (also claimed as irritation feet) due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions regarding secondary service connection for obstructive sleep apnea. The Veteran's claim is being returned for further development and consideration.

The Veteran's GERD is granted a 10 percent rating, effective from April 24, 2023. The Veteran's Sleep Apnea remains at a 50 percent rating.

The Veteran's claims for left knee strain, right knee strain, lumbosacral strain, and tinnitus have been dismissed. The Board has remanded the Veteran's shoulder and shin disability claims.

The Veteran is granted an effective date of May 24, 2019 for the award of service connection for sleep apnea secondary to his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's diabetes is granted as service connected due to exposure at Camp Lejeune. His erectile dysfunction secondary to diabetes is also granted. However, his obstructive sleep apnea is denied as not related to his diabetes.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to address the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) due to potential exposure during his military service, specifically related to smoke and residue inhalation. The case will be returned to VA for further examination and opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's current OSA and in-service exposures.

The Veteran's claim for an annual clothing allowance due to a back brace is denied because there is no evidence that the back brace tends to wear out or tear his clothing.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is found to be related to his military service and has been granted as a result.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and a right knee disability due to incomplete records from the Veteran's Arkansas Army National Guard and Army Reserve service. The AOJ is instructed to make reasonable attempts to obtain these records.