Sleep apnea decisions — 2026

The Board has found a duty to assist error occurred and remands the case for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran needs regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, shin splints, foot disabilities, shoulder, ankle, hip, knee, and multi-joint arthritis. The Board also granted a 70 percent rating for PTSD with substance use disorder, severe.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbosacral strain and pseudofolliculitis barbae, finding that the evidence does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under applicable VA regulations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is related to his in-service obesity and grants service connection for OSA.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's currently diagnosed obstructive sleep apnea is secondary to his service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). As such, service connection for OSA is granted.

The Veteran's increased ratings for cervical strain with IVDS and lumbosacral and thoracic strain, as well as service connection for LUE, LLE, and RLE radiculopathy were granted effective May 8, 2023.,Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits were also awarded based on the Veteran's combined 100 percent disability rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for migraine headaches and lumbosacral strain are granted. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as PTSD) is denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's sleep apnea. The Veteran seeks service connection for this condition, which may be related to in-service sleep problems and/or aggravated by his service-connected sinusitis or anxiety disorder.

The Veteran's service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, as secondary to his service-connected psychiatric disorder (insomnia with adjustment disorder, mixed anxiety, depression chronic, alcohol use disorder and nicotine tobacco use disorder associated with tinnitus), is granted. The claim of service connection for hypertension, which may be related to the Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disorder, is remanded.

The Board has determined that the AOJ's decision denying service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, which is claimed as secondary to a service-connected lumbar spine disability, was not supported by an adequate medical opinion considering whether obesity (an intermediate step) caused or aggravated the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea. The case is being remanded to obtain such an opinion.

The Veteran's service connection claims for migraines and obstructive sleep apnea have been granted as they are found to be related to her service-connected sinusitis, rhinitis, and major depressive disorder.,Both conditions were determined to be secondary to the Veteran's existing service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to September 30, 2021. The effective date was not granted as there was no factually ascertainable increase in his service-connected disabilities within one year of the TDIU claim.

The Board has decided to remand the claim of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as secondary to service-connected chronic PTSD with recurrent major depressive disorder and alcohol use disorder or in-service toxic exposure risk activities (TERAs). The Veteran must be provided a VA medical opinion to clarify the etiology of his OSA.

The Veteran's appeal regarding service connection for sleep apnea is remanded due to the inadequacy of the VA examination used in the previous decision. The Board requires a new opinion on whether his sleep apnea was caused by or aggravated by in-service events, including exposure to low oxygen concentration aboard a submarine.

The rating reduction from 70 percent to 50 percent for PTSD was not proper, and the Veteran's disability rating is restored.,Service connection for sleep apnea due to service or service-connected PTSD is denied.

The Veteran's sleep disorder, including obstructive sleep apnea, is found to be related to her service-connected PTSD and thus service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) as secondary to her service-connected Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder with alcohol use disorder, after resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability and special monthly compensation due to his service-connected disabilities, finding that they did not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea claim should be remanded due to a lack of adequate medical opinions regarding its etiology and whether it is related to service or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's initial claim for hypothyroidism was denied as he had already been diagnosed with the condition prior to filing his claim.,Service connection has been granted for muscle weakness and cold intolerance, Crohn's disease, and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) all secondary to his service-connected hypothyroidism.