Sleep apnea decisions — 2026

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate secondary service connection opinion and the need for further development regarding obesity as an intermediate step in causing or aggravating sleep apnea.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, cervical spine disorders, radiculopathies of the upper and lower extremities, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, COPD, GERD, gastroparesis, diverticulosis, rhinitis, OSA, left ankle disorder, and left foot disorder have been granted. The claims are based on presumptive service connection due to exposure to noise during service.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty to assist error, requiring further development and consideration of the Veteran's claims for a higher rating for lumbosacral strain with paravertebral muscle spasm and whether left lower extremity radiculopathy is related to service.

The Board has found that new and relevant evidence was submitted for the Veteran's claims of service connection for back disability, chronic fatigue syndrome, colon cancer, acquired psychiatric disorder, and obstructive sleep apnea. The AOJ must readjudicate these claims based on this new evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to duty-to-assist errors and will need a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is related to his service, service-connected conditions, or toxic exposures.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is granted as service-connected, while right ear hearing loss and obstructive sleep apnea are denied.,Tinnitus has been granted as service-connected, allergic rhinitis and sinusitis have also been granted.

The Veteran's PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder, migraine headaches, and OSA are all granted as secondary to his service-connected psychiatric disorder. The rating assigned is a 100 percent initial rating for the entire period on appeal.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty to assist error, and requires additional medical opinion regarding whether PTSD caused or aggravated OSA.

The Board has granted service connection for a back condition, including lumbosacral strain, degenerative disc disease, and lumbar spondylosis.,Service connection was also granted for left lower extremity radiculopathy and right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board has remanded two issues related to the Veteran's lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease, including determining an effective date prior to April 6, 2022, and setting a disability rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Veteran's asthma, OSA secondary to asthma, and IBS have been granted service connection.,Service connection for asthma is established based on the presumption of soundness. Service connection for OSA is granted as it is considered a complication of asthma. Service connection for IBS is granted as there is no evidence of pre-service condition.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea, finding that it is caused and aggravated by his service-connected unspecified trauma and stressor related disorder.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty to assist error regarding the relationship between the Veteran's sleep apnea and his service-connected tinnitus.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic right wrist sprain, lumbosacral strain, a right knee disorder (right knee strain, meniscal tear, chondromalacia, and posterosuperior marginal patellar spur), left lower extremity shin splints, and right lower extremity shin splints. These conditions are considered to be directly related to service.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of tinnitus, hypertension, sleep apnea, lumbar arthropathy (lower back), numbness of chin and mouth, cervical radiculopathy, left, cervical radiculopathy, right, right lower lumbar radiculopathy, and left lower lumbar radiculopathy as the Veteran withdrew his appeal in writing.

The Veteran's service-connected tinnitus and obstructive sleep apnea are granted, with the latter being related to her service-connected PTSD.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and atrial fibrillation as secondary to his service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and obstructive sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's conditions are at least as likely as not related to his active-duty service.,The Board also remanded the claims of service connection for a breathing disability (presumed to be asthma) and right ankle disability due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has decided to remand the claim for a new medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's central sleep apnea is secondary to his service-connected hypertension.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that the evidence is in approximate balance with the negative VA opinions and positive private opinions. The Veteran's in-service symptoms point towards OSA.