Sleep apnea decisions — 2026

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left elbow condition, right knee strain, and lumbosacral strain (claimed as back condition) due to lack of a current diagnosis. The claims are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and a psychiatric disorder other than PTSD due to the need for additional evidence. Specifically, VA treatment records from before January 2001 are required, as well as a psychiatric examination.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea and headaches, finding that these conditions are secondary to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD and tinnitus respectively. The decision is based on medical opinions provided by private physicians who concluded that the Veteran's sleep apnea and headaches were aggravated by his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) as secondary to Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor.

The Veteran withdrew their appeal for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea.

The Veteran's reduction from a 100% to a 70% rating for other specified trauma and stressor disorder with unspecified substance related disorder in partial remission (previously diagnosed as posttraumatic stress disorder with generalized anxiety disorder and unspecified personality disorder) is restored.,The Veteran's reduction from a 40% to a 10% rating for lumbosacral strain is restored.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a recurrent lumbosacral spine disability and hypertension are being remanded due to the need for additional verification of his National Guard service records.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is granted as secondary to his service-connected depressive disorder, cervical degenerative arthritis, radiculopathy, and left knee, hip, and foot disabilities.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that it is proximately due to his service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The Veteran's service-connected obstructive sleep apnea and migraine headaches have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, as they cause persistent daytime hypersomnolence and prostrating headache attacks.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea and his service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's intestinal condition, OSA, and chronic fatigue as secondary to his service-connected psychiatric conditions.

The Board has determined that the VA medical opinion provided by the AOJ was inadequate and remanded for further clarification on whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is caused or aggravated by his service-connected tinnitus.

The Board has denied service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability and granted service connection for bilateral tinnitus. The issue of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is remanded due to a duty-to-assist error.

The Board has decided to remand the claim of entitlement to service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) due to insufficient evidence in the January 2025 rating decision. The Veteran's OSA is being examined again with a focus on whether it is caused by or aggravated by his service-connected lumbosacral disc disease with intervertebral disc syndrome, and if obesity/weight gain from his service-connected condition contributed to his OSA.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability, including degenerative disc disease and spinal stenosis, is found to be related to service.,Obstructive sleep apnea is determined to be related to weight gain associated with his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, finding that her symptoms were incurred during her first period of active duty service. The decision is based on lay statements and testimony from the Veteran, her husband, sister-in-law, and fellow servicemember regarding the onset and continuity of her sleep apnea symptoms.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of lumbosacral strain has been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran during the pendency of the appeal.

The Veteran's appeal of the issue regarding a disability rating for lumbosacral strain with spinal stenosis and chronic musculoligamentous strain, as well as whether the reduction to 10 percent was proper, has been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings on lumbosacral spine disability, cervical spine disability, and front neck scar have been dismissed. The appeal of the proposed reduction in rating for service-connected bilateral lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy has also been dismissed.