Sleep apnea decisions — 2026

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to a failure to obtain an opinion from a VA examiner regarding the Veteran's disabilities and their relation to carelessness, negligence, lack of proper skill, error in judgment or similar instance of fault on the part of VA.

The Board has granted service connection for basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and rosacea prior to August 10, 2022 on a basis other than the PACT Act. Service connection is also granted for dermatitis and pruritus but denied for hidradenitis.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, including whether it is related to in-service exposure or secondary to a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from obtaining or maintaining gainful employment due to his back and knee conditions, which limit his ability to stand, walk, lift, bend, and carry.

The Veteran withdrew their appeal for service connection of obstructive sleep apnea, and the case is dismissed.

The Veteran withdrew their appeal for service connection for sleep apnea, and the Board has dismissed it.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic bronchitis is denied as there is no current diagnosis of the condition.,Service connection for emphysema and COPD is granted on a presumptive basis pursuant to the PACT Act due to exposure to burn pits during active duty in Kuwait.,Service connection for asthma is granted based on presumed exposure to fine particulate matter during service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations.,The claim for service connection for OSA is denied as there is no established link between the Veteran's symptoms and his military service, including exposure to burn pits.

The Veteran's tinnitus, GERD, and OSA have been granted service connection. The Veteran's erectile dysfunction has not.,Service connection for tinnitus, GERD, and OSA is established based on direct evidence of their onset during or shortly after service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether sleep apnea is related to service or toxic exposure, specifically Agent Orange. A VA examination and opinion are required.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty-to-assist error, specifically regarding the Veteran's exposure to burn barrels and a burning oil field during his deployment in Kuwait. The VA examiner did not address these specific exposures.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea secondary to the service-connected PTSD, right knee replacement, and left knee strain with degenerative arthritis and painful motion. The TDIU claim is being remanded.

The Veteran's TDIU rating is granted from May 27, 2025, based on his service-connected sleep apnea and PTSD.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that it is aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability.

The Board has granted service connection for major depressive disorder with anxious distress and unspecified trauma and stressor-related disorder, migraine including migraine variants, obstructive sleep apnea, and right leg varicose veins. The diagnoses are related to the Veteran's in-service experiences and/or his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's application for specially adapted housing and special home adaptation grants was denied as he does not meet the eligibility requirements due to his service-connected disabilities not meeting the regulatory requirements.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, finding that his current diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea is related to his active-duty service.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea, finding that it is secondary to his service-connected lumbar strain disability and caused by obesity resulting from his chronic pain.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis, erectile dysfunction, and sleep apnea are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions. The claim for migraine headaches remains denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding obesity as an intermediate step between the Veteran's service-connected conditions and his obstructive sleep apnea. The AOJ is required to obtain a new opinion on this matter.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for arrhythmia and sleep apnea are being remanded due to the AOJ failing to obtain relevant private treatment records, including those from Sussex Two State Prison, Department of Corrections, MCV Hospital, and VCU Health. The Social Security Administration (SSA) records have also not been obtained.