Sleep apnea decisions — 2026

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) disability, finding that it had its onset in service and continues to persist.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbosacral strain and degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, finding that new evidence supports a link to his military service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The decision is based on new evidence submitted by the Veteran, including a statement from his spouse and medical opinions linking PTSD to obstructive sleep apnea.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is being remanded due to a duty to assist error. The AOJ must obtain a VA examination and medical opinion regarding the relationship between his sleep apnea and active service, including presumed exposure to burn pits during deployment in Iraq.

The Board has granted service connection for a thoracic sprain but denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's symptoms began during his active duty and have continued since. The decision is based on credible lay statements from the Veteran and his wife.

The Board has determined that there were errors in the decision-making process regarding service connection for OSA, and thus remands the case to allow for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions regarding secondary service connection for OSA with hypertension and bradykinesia disabilities. The Veteran's OSA is being considered again, but no new rating or effective date was assigned.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is remanded for further examination and opinion to determine if it is related to service or a service-connected disability, including his psychiatric condition.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate VA examination, and a new one must be conducted to determine if the Veteran's sleep apnea is related to his service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, obstructive sleep apnea, and headaches are being remanded due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors. The AOJ is required to obtain a VA examination and medical opinion to determine if the conditions are related to his military service, including exposure in the Southwest Asia Theater of Operations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea was granted with an effective date of August 21, 2019. The Board found that the earliest manifestation of OSA occurred in March 2014 and thus determined this as the effective date.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is related to his active service and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has found a pre-decisional error in the denial of the Veteran's request to change his vocational rehabilitation goal from diesel technology to obtaining a music degree. The case is being remanded for further evaluation and consideration.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's sleep apnea, finding that it is secondary to his service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The claims of service connection for bilateral CTS and sleep apnea are being remanded due to a pre-decision duty to assist error. The Veteran should be afforded examinations to address his theories of entitlement, including whether the disabilities are secondary or aggravated by any service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to missing records and a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The claims will be readjudicated after obtaining any necessary records.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment, qualifying for a TDIU. The appeal of the increased rating for obstructive sleep apnea is dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal.

The appeal to reduce the rating for lumbosacral strain from 40 percent to 10 percent is dismissed because it was not an adjudicative determination, and no valid notice of disagreement was filed.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty-to-assist error in the July 2025 rating decision, which did not address whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is caused or aggravated by his service-connected anxiety disorder and tinnitus.