Sleep apnea decisions — 2026

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected PTSD caused or aggravated his sleep apnea.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between his current diagnosis and military service.

The Veteran's Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is found to have started during his active military service and the Board has granted service connection for OSA.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbosacral degenerative arthritis with lumbar scoliosis and right knee degenerative arthritis, as these conditions are not found to be related to his active duty service. The claim for anxiety/panic attacks is also denied.

The Veteran's service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is granted. The increased rating claim for PTSD in excess of 30 percent is denied. The matter of service connection for polycythemia as secondary to service-connected obstructive sleep apnea is remanded.

The Veteran's sleep apnea, prostate cancer, and non-Hodgkins lymphoma have been granted service connection on a direct basis.,Reasonable doubt has been resolved in favor of the Veteran for all three conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea and remanded the claims of left hand pain, index finger, thumb, long finger, little finger, ring finger, right hand pain, index finger, thumb, little finger, and ring finger. The decision is based on secondary service connection due to a service-connected condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for OSA as secondary to his service-connected PTSD, finding that there was no probative evidence linking OSA to either a disease or injury incurred in service or to a service-connected disability.

The Board has denied the Veteran's requests for earlier effective dates for service connection for migraines and obstructive sleep apnea, as there were no outstanding applications within one year of the intent to file.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is due to his period of active service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to a failure to obtain complete service treatment records, which may provide evidence of a nexus between the Veteran's claimed conditions and his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for headaches, rhinitis, and sleep apnea due to potential secondary etiology from service-connected psychiatric disabilities. The other issues remain pending.

The Veteran's hearing loss does not meet the criteria for VA compensation purposes.,There is no evidence of a current diagnosis of sleep apnea.,Service connection for asthma was granted on a presumptive basis under the PACT Act, effective August 10, 2022.,Service connection for migraine headaches (headaches) was granted on a presumptive basis under the PACT Act, effective December 3, 2021.,Service connection for right hand strain was granted on a presumptive basis under the PACT Act, effective December 3, 2021.,Service connection for allergic rhinitis was granted on a presumptive basis under the PACT Act, effective August 10, 2022.

The Board has granted service connection for a left hip condition, erectile dysfunction, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain.,The evidence supports that these conditions are aggravated by or related to his service-connected disability.

The Veteran's currently diagnosed OSA had its onset during service, and the Board granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development on the issues of service connection for sleep apnea, kidney stones, lumbosacral strain, and left lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve.,Service connection for left ear hearing loss was denied as there is no current evidence showing a disability meeting VA's criteria.

The Board is remanding the claims for sleep apnea, allergic rhinitis, and plantar fasciitis due to pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors. A VA medical opinion is required on remand.

The Veteran withdrew all pending appeals, including those for increased ratings and service connection claims. The appeal is dismissed as a result.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, lumbosacral strain, and hypertension due to insufficient evidence of a current diagnosis or causal relationship.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is found to be etiologically related to his active service, including deployments in Southwest Asia where he was exposed to burn pits and other toxic substances. The Board granted the claim for service connection.