The Veteran's sleep apnea is being remanded for further evaluation due to insufficient opinions regarding its relationship to his service-connected disabilities and obesity.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner did not provide an opinion on whether the Veteran's sleep apnea was caused or aggravated by any of his service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and allergic rhinitis. Additionally, there is no opinion on whether obesity, a risk factor for sleep apnea, was caused by any of his service-connected disabilities.
- Claimed conditions
- obstructive sleep apnea, PTSD, allergic rhinitis, benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, irritable bowel syndrome, cervical spine strain, left shoulder strain, right shoulder strain, cervical radiculopathy of the left upper extremity with ulnar compression neuropathy, right upper extremity polyneuropathy with cervical radiculopathy, tinnitus, lumbosacral strain, right elbow strain (flexion), left elbow strain (flexion), right elbow strain (supination and pronation), left elbow strain (supination and pronation), right lower extremity neuropathy, left lower extremity neuropathy, right knee strain with patellofemoral pain syndrome, right elbow strain (extension), traumatic brain injury, right knee strain with patellofemoral pain syndrome and limitation of extension, erectile dysfunction, left elbow strain (extension), gastroesophageal reflux disease
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 3, 2026
- Citation
- A26018685
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 A26018685.
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.
- Granted
The Board of Veterans' Appeals has granted service connection for PTSD and Mood Disorders, both presumed conditions under the PACT Act.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for diabetes mellitus type II with erectile dysfunction was denied as the evidence did not show that he had been diagnosed and manifested to at least a 10 percent disability rating on or prior to May 8, 2001.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to incomplete medical records and need for further examination.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, arthritis, and memory loss. The decision found no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.
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