The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for sleep apnea and a left shoulder condition due to potential exposure to asbestos during military service. The Veteran's claim for sleep apnea is related to the PACT Act, which requires VA to provide an examination and medical opinion regarding the possibility of a nexus between the disability and the TERA (toxic exposure risk activity). For the left shoulder condition, the Board found that a physical trauma occurred in service but determined that an exception applies due to the nature of the claim. The Veteran will be scheduled for examinations to determine if his conditions are related to service.
The deciding factor: The PACT Act requires VA to provide an examination and medical opinion regarding the possibility of a nexus between the disability and the TERA (toxic exposure risk activity) when a veteran's active service exposed them to such activities. In this case, the Veteran's claim for sleep apnea is related to the PACT Act.
- Claimed conditions
- sleep apnea, left shoulder condition
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- Burn pits / airborne hazards
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 3, 2026
- Citation
- A26009838
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 A26009838.
What this means for you
A remand is not a loss. The Board sent the case back for more development — often a new exam or missing records — before making a final decision. Many remands later end in a grant, and the decision spells out exactly what the Board wanted to see.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, finding that there was no evidence of a chronic disease manifesting within one year after service and concluding that the current disability is not related to his in-service deviated septum.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case for additional development regarding the Veteran's claim of service connection for sleep apnea. The Veteran will be provided with a VA examination to determine if his current sleep disorder is related to his military service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the issue of service connection for sleep apnea due to insufficient medical opinions and need for further development.
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