Sleep apnea decisions — 2026

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for right fifth finger tendinosis is denied.,The Veteran's claims of service connection for sleep apnea and an acquired psychiatric disability (claimed as depression, anxiety, and insomnia) are remanded.,The Veteran's claim of service connection for a lumbar spine disability is remanded.,The Veteran's claim of increased rating for headache disability is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and chronic stomach cramping/pain are being remanded due to inadequate medical opinions. The Board requires an addendum opinion on the etiology of the Veteran's OSA, and a new VA examination is needed to address his claimed stomach condition.

The Board has remanded several claims due to duty-to-assist errors and the need for additional medical opinions regarding the severity of the Veteran's disabilities, including their relationship to service.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for allergic rhinitis and lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis, IVDS, and degenerative disc disease other than IVDS were denied as the evidence did not support a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea did not begin during service or is otherwise related to his military service. The evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection, and there is insufficient medical opinion supporting secondary service connection based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal for higher disability ratings for his service-connected left knee and low back disabilities was denied. The Board found that the current 10 percent rating assigned for each condition is appropriate based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran's OSA is granted as secondary to his service-connected major depressive disorder with anxious distress, ADHD, and alcohol use disorder by history. His evaluation for major depressive disorder remains at 70 percent disabling but effective from April 28, 2025.

The Board has granted service connection for sinusitis, thoracolumbosacral strain with scoliosis, and rhinitis. Attorney fees are eligible based on past-due benefits resulting from this decision.

The Board denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that the condition did not have its onset during or immediately after service and is not related to any in-service event or exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is at least as likely as not due to his service-connected allergic rhinitis, and thus grants service connection for OSA.

The Veteran's chronic bronchitis with minimal obstructive airway disease is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.,Service connection for OSA has been granted as it was first diagnosed during service.

The Veteran's eligibility for Post-9/11 GI Bill educational benefits expired on October 12, 2023. The Board granted an extension of the delimiting date due to medical infeasibility caused by his service-connected conditions and the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for gastritis has been denied due to lack of new and relevant evidence.,Service connection for sinusitis is denied as there is no evidence that the condition began during active service or is otherwise related to an in-service injury.

The Board has found a pre-decisional duty to assist error and remands the case for further action, including scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate VA medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is secondary to his service-connected PTSD and MDD. The case will be returned for a new medical opinion.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for migraines, left knee injury, right hip injury, and left hip injury is denied as there is no persuasive evidence of a current disability.,Service connection for sleep apnea is also denied because the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis. The Board finds that his lay statements do not satisfy the third prong of McLendon v. Nicholson.

The Board has denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, hypertension, and right foot gout as they are not related to the Veteran's military service or toxic exposures.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea may be related to his service, but needs further investigation into all claimed exposures. The case is being sent back for this purpose.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of OSA, finding that there was no in-service event or injury related to OSA and that its onset occurred after service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea began during service and is related to his military service, granting service connection for OSA.