Sleep apnea decisions — 2026

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of left hip disability, bladder disability, and sleep apnea due to procedural defects. The Veteran's claims were not timely filed under the new review system.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The rating in excess of 10 percent for lumbosacral degenerative disc disease with degenerative joint disease, the compensable rating for scar status post lumbar fusion L5-S1, and the initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus have all been denied.

The Board dismissed the appeal for obstructive sleep apnea due to a procedural issue, and remanded the cervical spinal stenosis claim.

The Board has granted service connection for OSA on a secondary basis to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD. The claims of entitlement to service connection for back and right knee disabilities are remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is related to his service, specifically his exposure to burn pits during deployment in Afghanistan. The decision grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's sleep apnea and her service-connected PTSD, as well as a need for an opinion on whether her sleep apnea is related to her active duty service in Saudi Arabia where she reported exposure to burning waste material.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected mood disorder and tinnitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea began during service and continues to persist, granting service connection for OSA.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and bruxism due to evidence of participation in a toxic exposure risk activity during service. VA medical opinions are needed regarding whether these conditions are related to the Veteran's military service.

The Board has found that new evidence has been received for the previously denied claims of service connection for sleep apnea and PTSD, and therefore these claims are remanded to allow for further review.

The Veteran's claim for a 30 percent rating effective August 19, 2024 for service-connected residuals for pseudofolliculitis barbae with scars (initially claimed as a dermatological disability at the face and bilateral hands) is granted.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA medical opinion to address service connection for obstructive sleep apnea on both direct and secondary bases, including considering obesity as an intermediate step between the service-connected insomnia and the claimed condition.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension, finding that it is related to the Veteran's service-connected alcohol use disorder and obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea, finding that it is aggravated by his service-connected PTSD and tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty to assist error and the need for further medical examination.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected tinnitus, finding that the aggravation of his sleep apnea by his tinnitus is at least as likely as not.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the Veteran's withdrawal request, which was granted by the Board.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back disability and obstructive sleep apnea due to inadequate opinions from VA examiners. The Veteran is seeking service connection for these conditions, which are related to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for VR&E services as his vocational goal of becoming a scuba instructor was not reasonably feasible due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty-to-assist error, requiring further examination and opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) and whether it is related to his service-connected disabilities.