The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea, finding it less likely than not that the condition began in or was otherwise caused by active service, to include as a result of toxic risk exposure activities (TERAs), or related to a service-connected disability.
The deciding factor: The August 2023 VA examiner opined that OSA is an anatomical condition with a clear and specific etiology unrelated to toxic exposures, and the medical literature does not support a cause and effect between environmental exposure in Southwest Asia and OSA. The Veteran's STRs do not show any complaints of or treatment for sleep apnea during service, and the first mention of sleep apnea was in 2023, years after separation from active service.
- Claimed conditions
- sleep apnea
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 22, 2025
- Citation
- A25110070
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