Sleep apnea decisions — 2026

The Veteran's Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is found to be proximately due to his service-connected Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), with obesity as an intermediate step.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea due to inadequate medical opinions and a need for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected COPD caused him to become obese, which in turn led to his sleep apnea. The Board has granted service connection for the sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected COPD.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need to obtain missing National Guard records, including those from his time in the Alabama Army National Guard.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for service connection for erectile dysfunction, sleep apnea, and migraine headaches need further review due to outstanding records.

The Board has granted service connection for OSA as secondary to service-connected hypertension with renal insufficiency, based on the opinion of a non-VA clinician who linked the Veteran's conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) condition, finding that it is related to service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated as noncompensable and effective from February 21, 2023.,Service connection for a lumbar strain was granted with an effective date of June 7, 2021. The Veteran requested an earlier effective date but it was denied.,Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) has been service connected and the effective date is August 8, 2022.,Depressive disorder received a grant with an effective date of June 7, 2021.,Service connection for BPPV was granted as secondary to migraines.,Right hip condition and left hip condition were denied service connection.,Acne, erectile dysfunction, scars, diabetes, left foot condition, right foot condition, and retina condition were all denied service connection.

The Board denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that the evidence did not support a link between the condition and service. The Veteran's symptoms were not documented in his service records and post-service treatment records do not indicate chronic sleep disturbances since service.

The Board has decided to remand the claim of service connection for hypertension (HTN) as secondary to service-connected obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The AOJ made a decision based on an inadequate VA medical opinion regarding secondary service connection. The Board finds that there is a need for correction due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Board has determined that there are errors in the VA medical opinions provided and remanded the cases for further development.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection and increased ratings was dismissed due to their death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, fibromyalgia, and acquired psychiatric disability (including major depressive disorder) are being remanded due to duty-to-assist errors. The claims will be reconsidered with the addition of relevant SSA records and VA treatment records.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA medical opinions regarding the Veteran's sleep apnea and failure to address all theories of service connection reasonably raised by the evidence.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error, specifically regarding the adequacy of the VA medical opinion provided in August 2019. The claim will be reconsidered with a new VA examination and opinion.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, peripheral neuropathy, diabetes mellitus type II, and chronic sinusitis, prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claim for SMC at the (r) rate is denied as he does not meet the criteria for an award of SMC based on need for aid and attendance due to his service-connected conditions other than tonic-clonic seizures or grand mal epilepsy.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for an addendum VA medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is related to his service, specifically his Vietnam service.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed as he withdrew his claims for service connection of sleep apnea, COPD, and an earlier effective date for a 60% evaluation of asbestosis. The claim for an initial rating in excess of 60% for CAD is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for GERD is granted. The Board finds that the Veteran's current GERD is causally related to his military service. Service connection for Facial Scar, OSA, and IBS are remanded as there are insufficient medical opinions regarding their relationship to service-connected conditions.