The Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea was denied. The Veteran received a 10 percent rating for his psychiatric disability prior to September 23, 2025 and the issue of remanding for increased ratings on several other conditions is noted.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not show a current diagnosis of sleep apnea, and the Veteran's symptoms were found to be related to his service-connected PTSD. The psychiatric disability was found to cause total social and occupational impairment throughout the appeal period.
- Claimed conditions
- Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder with unspecified neurocognitive disorder (psychiatric disability), Constipation, Parkinson's disease with tremor and bradykinesia, right upper extremity, Tremor with bradykinesia, left upper extremity, Balance impairment, Loss of automatic movements, right side, Loss of automatic movements, left side, Speech changes, right side, Speech changes, left side
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- January 29, 2026
- Citation
- A26008579
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation A26008579.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for SMC based on aid and attendance from June 1, 2011, to May 24, 2017, finding that his need for regular aid and attendance was not established during this period.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected left knee and left ankle conditions.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected other specified insomnia disorder.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and heart disability, including coronary artery disease, as these conditions are found to be proximately due to or the result of the Veteran's service-connected PTSD.
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