Sleep apnea decisions — 2026

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected rhinitis and sinusitis, finding that all reasonable doubt should be resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to errors in duty to assist and inadequate opinions regarding service connection for sleep apnea. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered with new evidence and opinions.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for CKD, bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, and OSA due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea secondary to service-connected lumbar spine and bilateral knee disabilities. The claims of service connection for hypertension, fatigue, left wrist carpal tunnel syndrome, right wrist carpal tunnel syndrome, left upper extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy, right upper extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy, and a neck condition are remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to correct a pre-decisional duty to assist error and obtain new medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's service-connected PTSD and his current OSA.

The Board has granted service connection for migraine headaches and obstructive sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's symptoms were present during active duty and have continued since then. The claims are based on direct evidence of a current disability and a link to service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate opinions regarding the aggravation of sleep apnea by service-connected rhinitis and sinusitis. The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea is being returned for further review.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to a duty to assist error, requiring an adequate medical opinion on aggravation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current obstructive sleep apnea is aggravated by his service-connected psychiatric disability, specifically generalized anxiety disorder with recurrent major depressive disorder and alcohol use disorder in remission. Therefore, service connection for OSA is granted on a secondary basis.

The Veteran's right breast gynecomastia did not result in significantly disabling impairment of the skin and is therefore denied an initial compensable rating.,There is no evidence of a current right ear hearing loss disability for VA purposes, and thus service connection for this condition is denied.,Service connection for left ear hearing loss is also denied as there was no showing of a relationship between the Veteran's military noise exposure and his current hearing loss.,The Veteran's claimed left finger disability did not have its onset during active service and is therefore not service connected.,Similarly, the right finger disability did not have its onset during active service and is also not service connected.,Lumbosacral strain, left elbow disability, and right elbow disability are all denied as there was no showing of a relationship between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.,Left wrist sprain is also denied as it did not have its onset during active service and is not otherwise etiologically related to such service.

The Veteran's IBS and GERD have been granted service connection as they are found to be related to his service-connected adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood with insomnia.,Lumbosacral strain, radiculopathy of the left lower extremity (sciatic nerve), and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity (sciatic nerve) have been remanded for further review.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and sleep apnea, finding that there is approximately even balance of evidence regarding their onset during service. The claim for causation of hypertension secondary to PTSD and alcohol use disorder was also granted.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as secondary to his service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The decision finds that PTSD aggravated the OSA.

The Veteran withdrew her appeals for earlier effective dates for the awards of service connection for sleep apnea, left foot plantar fasciitis, left foot hallux valgus, and left hip degenerative arthritis.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection for sleep apnea before the Board could make a decision.

The Veteran's hypertension, atrial fibrillation, sleep apnea, and cardiac pacemaker are all found to be related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.,Service connection is granted for these conditions as secondary to the service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a left knee disability and obstructive sleep apnea due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain and degenerative arthritis and stenosis of the cervical spine are granted service connection as they are related to parachute jumps during active-duty service.

The Board denied the Veteran's requests for an effective date prior to January 17, 2023 for service connection of lumbosacral strain and tinnitus due to lack of a pending claim before that date.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is proximately due to his service-connected disabilities, including obesity caused by his service-connected lumbar spine, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, bilateral plantar fasciitis with pes planus deformity, and left and right knee disabilities. As a result, the Veteran's claim for service connection for OSA has been granted.