Sleep apnea decisions — 2026

The Board has determined that the evidence is at least in equipoise regarding whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea had its onset during service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.,The Veteran's low back disability and sciatic radiculopathy are both remanded for further evaluation as the current VA examination did not consider the ameliorative effects of medication.,Service connection for sleep apnea is also remanded, as there is conflicting medical evidence regarding whether the Veteran has a current diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board denied service connection for lumbosacral strain, finding that the evidence did not support a link between the condition and active military service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and obstructive sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's conditions are related to his military service. The decision resolves doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's sinusitis, sleep apnea, left knee disability, and brachial plexus impingement of the right upper extremity are all granted as service-connected.,Secondary service connection is also granted for the Veteran's sleep apnea (related to his service-connected sinusitis) and brachial plexus impingement of the right upper extremity (related to his service-connected right shoulder disability).

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea was denied in November 2018 due to lack of evidence linking the condition to his military service. The Board is remanding the case for further consideration.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is denied as there was no valid intent to file or other outstanding and unadjudicated claims for this condition prior to September 21, 2023.

The Board has determined that the VA did not obtain a primary nexus opinion for the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea and thus remanded the case to obtain such an opinion.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for a medical opinion regarding whether her service-connected major depressive disorder and/or hyperthyroidism aggravated her sleep apnea.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's Obstructive Sleep Apnea is secondary to his service-connected Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for asthma and sleep apnea due to a lack of a VA examination, despite her service in Turkey. The Veteran seeks service connection based on Gulf War burn pit exposure, but there is no evidence of such exposure.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for SMC at the intermediate rate between (m) and (n), finding that his PTSD and OSA are not separate and distinct from each other, thus preventing concurrent use of 38 C.F.R. � 3.350(f)(3) and 38 C.F.R. � 3.350(f)(4).

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for erectile dysfunction, sleep apnea, and headaches as there is no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to the submission of new and relevant evidence. The Veteran's claim is being readjudicated.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for fecal incontinence and obstructive sleep apnea due to insufficient development of evidence, including obtaining relevant private records and a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for a higher rating for lumbosacral strain with intervertebral disc syndrome, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy due to procedural errors in obtaining private medical records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for diabetes, GERD, left shoulder disability, lower back disability, OSA, and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy due to inadequate medical opinions regarding their etiology. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for erectile dysfunction as secondary to his service-connected PTSD is granted. However, the claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for central sleep apnea, finding that it is related to a head injury sustained during active duty in March 2001.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of right and left knee conditions, as well as OSA (sleep apnea), have been granted due to the submission of new and relevant evidence. The initial rating claim for hypertension has been remanded.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss claim is not on appeal.