Sleep apnea decisions — 2026

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for radiculopathy, left and right lower extremities as secondary to lumbosacral strain due to a lack of an adequate medical opinion prior to the March 2025 rating decision. The Veteran is advised to cooperate with VA in obtaining relevant evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right knee instability, degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, limitation of extension of the right knee, and traumatic injury of the right ankle. The decision finds that obesity, which is an intermediate step in causing OSA, was caused by these service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's back disability, lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis and levoscoliosis, is granted as service connection. The bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy conditions are also granted as secondary to the now service-connected back disability.,Service connection for a right shoulder disability is denied.

The Veteran's attorney representative was granted eligibility to attorney fees based on past-due benefits awarded in a March 2025 rating decision, which included an increased rating for PTSD and lumbosacral strain.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, left knee disability, and right knee disability are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination.,Eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) based on permanent and total disability status is granted with an effective date of January 25, 2016.

The Veteran withdrew their appeals regarding the claims for sleep apnea, left elbow carpal tunnel syndrome, right elbow carpal tunnel syndrome, left hand carpal tunnel syndrome, right hand carpal tunnel syndrome, a left knee disability, and a right knee disability. The appeal is dismissed.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as there is no probative evidence linking OSA to his military service or any service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been granted, with effective dates set at October 18, 2023. The lumbosacral strain has also received a higher initial rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea was granted with an effective date of January 26, 2022. His claim for chronic fatigue syndrome remains pending.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for irritable bowel syndrome, sleep apnea, and loss of kidney function as requested by the appellant.

The Board denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that the evidence did not support a nexus to service and was more persuasive against such a finding.

The Board has determined that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) was caused or aggravated by his service-connected sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, and PTSD. Therefore, service connection for OSA is granted.

The Veteran's back disability and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy are granted as service-connected due to in-service vehicle accidents.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to November 1, 2021, for the grant of total disability due to individual unemployability (TDIU) is denied. The Board found that there was no pending claim for TDIU or increased rating at the time of his application on November 2, 2021.

The Veteran's tinnitus had its onset in service and is granted service connection.,A compensable rating for chronic pansinusitis prior to August 15, 2025 is remanded due to a duty-to-assist error.,A compensable rating for migraine with migraine variants is remanded due to a duty-to-assist error.,Service connection for sleep apnea is remanded due to a duty-to-assist error and the need for a toxic exposure risk activity (TERA) opinion pursuant to the PACT Act.,Service connection for right hip disability (osteoarthritis) is remanded due to a duty-to-assist error.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for entitlement to service connection for a right shoulder disability and a heart disability. The appeal of entitlement to service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is remanded.

The Veteran's lumbar disorder, diagnosed as DDD and a lumbosacral strain, has been granted service connection. The Board found that the disability is related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty to assist error and for an addendum medical opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed OSA, including whether it is related to service or his service-connected tinnitus.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for OSA as secondary to his service-connected restrictive lung disease has been granted.,The issue of entitlement to service connection for fatigue is being remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea was dismissed because it constituted an impermissible concurrent review election, and the claim had already been granted in a separate rating decision.