Sleep apnea decisions — 2026

The Veteran's service connection claim for extraskeletal myxoid chondrosarcoma (sarcoma) of the thigh and lungs is granted on a direct basis, as it had its onset during his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder and his sleep apnea, as well as whether obesity caused by the psychiatric condition is a substantial factor in causing the current sleep apnea.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 50% disability rating for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is denied. The Board found that there was no evidence showing the Veteran required a CPAP machine prior to January 18, 2019.

The Veteran's OSA was granted service connection as it began during active duty.,Service connection for his back disability is granted, with the onset likely occurring in service or due to a pre-existing condition.,Service connection for his neck disorder is denied; the evidence does not support an in-service onset or line-of-duty injury.,The right wrist ganglion cyst claim was denied as there is no evidence of its onset during active duty.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for OSA as secondary to his service-connected MDD, finding that there is no evidence of a nexus between the two conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for right ear hearing loss was dismissed as untimely. The claim of a higher rating for his lumbar spine disability was denied, and the Veteran was granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty-to-assist error, and will request an examination and opinion regarding toxic exposure. The Veteran's sleep apnea is being evaluated for its onset in service, its relationship to his PTSD, and whether it is aggravated by his PTSD.

The Board has granted an earlier effective date of December 7, 2011 for the grant of service connection and a 10 percent rating for TMJ. The claims for service connection for left knee condition, back injury, right knee condition, and sleep apnea are remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis with lumbosacral strain and related disabilities, including PTSD, are granted effective April 11, 2024. The Veteran also received a 50% rating for his PTSD.

The Veteran is unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation due to the combined effects of his service-connected disabilities, including obstructive sleep apnea, PTSD, gunshot wound residuals, lumbar spine issues, hypothyroidism, sciatica, hypertension, scars, and other conditions. The Board has granted entitlement to TDIU.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss disability, obstructive sleep apnea, and TDIU due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The Veteran is also entitled to a VA examination to address these issues.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea was denied. The claim for left ankle condition is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's thoracolumbar strain, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy have been granted initial ratings of 40 percent each.,Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) has also been established.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disability, finding no evidence of a nexus between the condition and active service.,Service connection was also denied for obstructive sleep apnea, with the Board concluding that there is no direct link to active service.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple service-connected conditions, including chronic sinusitis, chronic fatigue syndrome, bilateral restless leg syndrome, generalized anxiety disorder, persistent depressive disorder, somatic symptom disorder, lumbosacral strain (claimed as pain of lumbar spine), left sciatic radicular pain, right sciatic radicular pain, tremors of the hands, chronic headaches, coronary heart disease, dermatosis hands, functional abdominal pain syndrome/abdominal pain and bloating, right ear sensorineural hearing loss, and left ear sensorineural hearing loss. The Board has remanded these issues for further development.,The Veteran's appeal involves multiple service-connected conditions, including chronic sinusitis, chronic fatigue syndrome, bilateral restless leg syndrome, generalized anxiety disorder, persistent depressive disorder, somatic symptom disorder, lumbosacral strain (claimed as pain of lumbar spine), left sciatic radicular pain, right sciatic radicular pain, tremors of the hands, chronic headaches, coronary heart disease, dermatosis hands, functional abdominal pain syndrome/abdominal pain and bloating, right ear sensorineural hearing loss, and left ear sensorineural hearing loss. The Board has remanded these issues for further development.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on the listed conditions have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of those claims at a hearing before the Board.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea as there was no competent evidence that the Veteran's condition began during active service or was related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to a duty to assist error in the initial rating decision. The VA examiner is requested to provide an addendum opinion regarding the severity of the Veteran's lumbosacral strain with IVDS without considering the ameliorative effects of medication, and to provide a retrospective opinion on its severity during the period from October 1, 2011, to October 4, 2023.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, headaches, left knee disability, and sleep apnea were dismissed as the appeal was untimely filed.,Service connection for tinnitus was granted.

The Veteran requested to withdraw his appeal for service connection of obstructive sleep apnea, and the Board dismissed the claim without prejudice.