Sleep apnea decisions — 2026

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for a right knee condition and sleep apnea due to incomplete medical records and inadequate pre-decisional examination.

The Veteran's initial rating for lumbosacral strain is being remanded due to the need for a supplemental opinion considering the ameliorative effects of medication.

The Board denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as it is not secondary to or otherwise related to the Veteran's service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and does not have a direct link to his in-service diagnosis of insufficient sleep syndrome.

The Board has granted a disability rating of 40 percent for lumbosacral strain, effective from March 26, 2023. The condition is currently rated under the General Rating Formula for the Spine due to limited forward flexion.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that reasonable doubt should be resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a heart disorder and OSA, as secondary to a heart disorder due to incomplete records and failure to consider all relevant in-service exposures. The Veteran's exposure to PFAS at Robins AFB is acknowledged, but further development is needed to address his COPD and smoking history.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty to assist error regarding the relationship between the Veteran's service-connected tinnitus and his obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The AOJ is required to obtain an opinion on whether OSA was aggravated by the service-connected tinnitus.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea, an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral restless leg syndrome, bilateral tremors of the hands, chronic headaches, facial dermatosis, erectile dysfunction (loss of use of a creative organ due to varicocele), and varicocele. The Veteran's symptoms have been observed since his time in service.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain a TERA Memorandum and an adequate VA examination and opinions, including a nexus opinion for direct service connection as well as a TERA opinion pursuant to the PACT Act.

The Veteran's thoracolumbar disability, rated at 20 percent since November 2011, is restored to a rating of 20 percent effective September 26, 2024.,Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and bronchiectasis are granted.

The Veteran's OSA and SSC bilateral ears are being remanded for further review.,Service connection is not currently established for the Veteran's hearing loss, which has been denied.

The Board has granted the appellant's claim for service connection of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as secondary to her service-connected asthma with occasional bronchitis.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea, as well as his bipolar disorder claim. The decision on service connection for bipolar disorder is dismissed due to untimeliness.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain is found to have started during service and has continued since then, meeting the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is due to or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD and allergic rhinitis, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to posttraumatic stress disorder with major depressive disorder has been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral pes planus with right great toe hallux limitus; bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy; obstructive sleep apnea; cervical degenerative arthritis, disc disease, spinal stenosis, and C4-C7 fusion; left shoulder strain; lumbar degenerative disc disease; right shoulder strain; right knee tendonitis; left knee tendonitis; painful right neck scar; tinnitus; right lower extremity polyneuropathy; and left lower extremity polyneuropathy render him unable to secure or follow any substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's appeals for proposed decreases in disability ratings were dismissed as the proposals were not final decisions at the time of the Veteran's Notice of Disagreement.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current sleep apnea is caused by his service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder, with weight gain/obesity acting as an intermediate step between them. Therefore, the claim for secondary service connection for sleep apnea is granted.

The Veteran withdrew their appeal for service connection of obstructive sleep apnea and vertigo, dizziness, and peripheral vestibular disorder before the Board could make a decision.