Sleep apnea — all decisions

The Board granted service connection for lumbar spine disability, as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected left foot crush injury, and sciatic radiculopathy of both lower extremities, also secondary to the newly service-connected lumbar spine disability. The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for depressive disorder with unspecified anxiety disorder and a compensable rating for allergic rhinitis.

The Board granted service connection for diabetes, obstructive sleep apnea, right lower extremity diabetic neuropathy, and left lower extremity diabetic neuropathy as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected conditions.

The Board denied service connection for cervical strain and a compensable rating for scars post-removal of squamous cell carcinomas, while remanding several other claims including diabetes mellitus, type II, diabetic neuropathies, obstructive sleep apnea, hypertension, left knee disability, traumatic brain injury with post-concussion syndrome migraines, and left hip disability.

The appeal for service connection for hypertension and sleep apnea was dismissed due to a duty to assist error in the April 2025 rating decision.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea as the evidence does not support that the Veteran currently has a sleep apnea disability.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an earlier effective date and a higher rating for sleep apnea.

The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that it is secondary to the Veteran's service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder.

The Board remands the matter to obtain an addendum medical opinion addressing service connection for obstructive sleep apnea on both direct and secondary bases, including consideration of obesity as an intermediate step between the service-connected PTSD and claimed obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for service connection and granted increased ratings for lumbosacral strain and right ankle disability.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension as it did not manifest during active duty or within one year thereof, and is not related to any in-service event, injury, disease, or medication taken for a service-connected disability. The claim for sleep apnea was remanded due to the need for an etiology opinion.

The Board granted a 40 percent rating for lumbosacral strain and denied or remanded the other issues on appeal.

The Board granted service connection for sleep apnea, finding that the evidence is at least in approximate balance regarding whether the Veteran's diagnosed OSA had its onset in service.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection for various conditions due to untimely filing of the December 2024 VA Form 10182.

The appeal for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea has been withdrawn by the appellant.

The Board remands the claim for an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) to include chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), as a pre-decisional duty to assist error was found regarding the Veteran's COPD, and he needs an appropriate VA examination.

The Board denied the claims for service connection for a facial injury, head injury, and left thumb injury as there was no evidence of current disability or functional impairment. The claims for GERD, squamous mucosa, migraine headaches, and hypertension were remanded for further development.

The Board granted service connection for hiatal hernia but denied it for obstructive sleep apnea.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities precluded him from securing and maintaining all forms of substantially gainful employment effective February 2, 2023.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and diabetes mellitus, type II, as there was no evidence to support a medical nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.