The Board denied service connection for a sleep disorder to include obstructive sleep apnea, finding that the evidence did not support a direct link between the condition and the Veteran's military service or his service-connected musculoskeletal disabilities.
The deciding factor: The February 2024 VA examiner opined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is less likely than not proximately due to or the result of his service connected disabilities, as there was no evidence demonstrating a pathophysiological/biomechanical mechanism by which shoulder conditions, lumbar conditions, knee conditions, anorectal conditions and kidney conditions cause anatomical constriction/physical obstruction of the upper airway leading to poor oxygenation during sleep. The examiner also noted that the Veteran's obesity and narrow crowded oropharynx are major risk factors in the development of obstructive sleep apnea.
- Claimed conditions
- sleep disorder to include obstructive sleep apnea
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 11, 2025
- Citation
- A25107161
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