How the Board ruled on sleep apnea claims, 2021–2025

Sleep apnea (direct service connection)

Direct (began in or was caused by service), or theory not stated in the Board order

58.7% granted of 5,919 decided cases (margin of error 57.4–59.9%). 3,474 granted, 2,445 denied, 7,322 sent back to VA (remanded, not decided), 1,284 dismissed.

What convinced the Board in granted cases

• The Board gave strong weight to statements from the veteran, his spouse, and fellow service members about loud snoring, stopping breathing, gasping, and daytime sleepiness during and after service, which a later sleep apnea diagnosis supported. (10 of 14 decisions read; e.g. 24016810, 21016530, 24000163)
• The Board gave little weight to VA opinions whose only reason was that sleep apnea was diagnosed after service, or that ignored witness statements, the veteran's account, or sleep complaints recorded in service. (7 of 14 decisions read; e.g. 24016810, A24021349, 21053320)
• The Board favored private opinions that considered the service records, post-service records, and lay statements, and gave a clear rationale (one cited a study on how long sleep apnea typically goes undiagnosed), over VA opinions that did not. (5 of 14 decisions read; e.g. A25037419, 22025199, A25024273)

Common reasons in denied cases

• The Board denied when nothing in service pointed to sleep apnea, the diagnosis came many years later, and a VA examiner gave a reasoned opinion, often naming obesity or other risk factors as the likely cause, with no credible medical opinion to the contrary. (7 of 12 decisions read; e.g. 21041011, 21051128, A24026430)
• The Board found the veteran's own view that his sleep apnea began in or came from service not competent, because sleep apnea has many possible causes and is a complex medical question. (4 of 12 decisions read; e.g. 22046747, 21077285, 24001546)
• The Board found no current sleep apnea diagnosis, for example because no sleep study had been done. (3 of 12 decisions read; e.g. A24068302, A25032810, A23027203)

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Sleep apnea (exposure claims)

Exposure (e.g. Agent Orange, Camp Lejeune, burn pits)

11.9% granted of 67 decided cases (margin of error 6.2–21.8%). 8 granted, 59 denied, 178 sent back to VA (remanded, not decided), 5 dismissed.

What convinced the Board in granted cases

• The Board granted when a favorable opinion considered the veteran's account and history and explained how the exposure led to sleep apnea, such as through airway congestion or lung disease, sometimes with listed references. (3 of 5 decisions read; e.g. 21075517, 21072804, A21003527)
• Negative VA opinions got little weight when they ignored the veteran's own statements or relied on a general article without applying it to the veteran's facts. (2 of 5 decisions read, few decisions; e.g. 21063488, 21072804)
• Credible reports of sleep symptoms during or soon after service, with a diagnosis that followed, supported grants. (2 of 5 decisions read, few decisions; e.g. 21063488, 21027285)

Common reasons in denied cases

• The Board denied when a VA examiner gave a reasoned opinion after reviewing the file, sometimes citing medical studies or naming another cause such as obesity, and no medical opinion contradicted it. (6 of 11 decisions read; e.g. 21075744, A25037869, 22001440)
• Sleep apnea is not on the herbicide or Camp Lejeune presumptive lists, and Gulf War claims failed because it has a known diagnosis; without a medical opinion linking it, these claims failed. (4 of 11 decisions read; e.g. 21027090, A24007542, 22001440)
• Some claims failed because service records showed no sleep symptoms, the first diagnosis came decades later, or the veteran's account of onset conflicted with the treatment records. (3 of 11 decisions read; e.g. 23004151, 21075744, A25028821)

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Sleep apnea secondary to any service-connected condition

Secondary (caused or worsened by a service-connected condition)

67.2% granted of 2,659 decided cases (margin of error 65.4–69.0%). 1,787 granted, 872 denied, 3,820 sent back to VA (remanded, not decided), 145 dismissed.

What convinced the Board in granted cases

• The Board granted when a private or treating doctor reviewed the history and explained how the service-connected condition led to sleep apnea, such as through weight gain, medication, or published studies. (7 of 11 decisions read; e.g. A24045098, A25030815, A21007904)
• Negative VA opinions lost weight when they addressed only causation and not aggravation, ignored the private opinion or literature, skipped the veteran's actual theory, or contradicted themselves. (4 of 11 decisions read; e.g. A25030815, A23011557, A25004787)
• Some grants came from a VA examiner's own favorable opinion or VA records, with no contrary medical opinion addressing the theory. (3 of 11 decisions read; e.g. 22052495, 23018538, A24012106)

Common reasons in denied cases

• The Board denied when a VA examiner gave a reasoned opinion that sleep apnea comes from airway blockage the service-connected condition does not cause, or that the condition did not cause the veteran's weight gain. (6 of 12 decisions read; e.g. 22000958, 22023679, A21004990)
• Claims failed when no doctor linked the sleep apnea to service or a service-connected condition, and only the veteran's own belief about the cause was offered. (4 of 12 decisions read; e.g. 22048154, 21039963, A24061652)
• Private opinions lost weight when they gave no rationale, cited articles not applied to the veteran, or answered a different question than the one on appeal. (3 of 12 decisions read; e.g. A21004990, 22042499, 21037639)

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Sleep apnea secondary to PTSD

Secondary (caused or worsened by a service-connected condition)

71.3% granted of 1,017 decided cases (margin of error 68.4–74.0%). 725 granted, 292 denied, 1,268 sent back to VA (remanded, not decided), 59 dismissed.

What convinced the Board in granted cases

• The Board favored opinions that explained how PTSD led to or worsened the sleep apnea, such as weight gain from PTSD or its medications, broken sleep and hyperarousal, or PTSD making it hard to use a CPAP machine. (11 of 20 decisions read; e.g. A24069082, A21015892, A25010584)
• Opinions that cited medical studies linking PTSD and sleep apnea, and applied them to the veteran's own history, were given high weight. (9 of 20 decisions read; e.g. 22017900, A24068148, A21001576)
• VA examiner opinions lost weight when they looked only at what caused the sleep apnea and not whether PTSD made it worse, ignored the studies the veteran sent in, wrongly said no studies exist, or gave bare conclusions. (9 of 20 decisions read; e.g. A23011557, 22040133, 24027117)

Common reasons in denied cases

• The Board relied on VA opinions it found thorough and well reasoned, which said studies show the two conditions often occur together but do not show PTSD causes or worsens sleep apnea. (8 of 17 decisions read; e.g. 22035874, 21009836, 21025599)
• There was no supporting medical opinion with reasoning: only the veteran's own belief, or a private opinion that gave no explanation, was incomplete, or had an unclear author. (8 of 17 decisions read; e.g. 22043438, A24055242, A21015754)
• The Board found other causes more likely, such as obesity, age and male sex, and found the weight gain was not shown to come from PTSD or its medications. (4 of 17 decisions read; e.g. A25017120, A21015092, A25039756)

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Sleep apnea secondary to depression / psychiatric disorder

Secondary (caused or worsened by a service-connected condition)

67.6% granted of 395 decided cases (margin of error 62.8–72.0%). 267 granted, 128 denied, 500 sent back to VA (remanded, not decided), 26 dismissed.

What convinced the Board in granted cases

• The Board gave high weight to private opinions that cited medical studies on the link between psychiatric conditions and sleep apnea and tied them to the veteran's own records and timeline. (12 of 20 decisions read; e.g. A25013657, A21005167, 22054065)
• VA examiner opinions lost weight when they addressed only cause and not worsening, skipped the secondary or weight-gain theory, overlooked the veteran's obesity, or used circular reasoning such as calling the conditions 'separate entities.' (9 of 20 decisions read; e.g. A25004274, A24069238, A24026363)
• Winning opinions explained a pathway, such as weight gain from the condition or its medications, sedating medications that relax the airway, or stress-hormone effects, and some noted the veteran lacked the usual risk factors. (7 of 20 decisions read; e.g. A25036717, A24008819, A21009793)

Common reasons in denied cases

• The Board relied on VA opinions explaining that studies show the conditions often occur together but do not prove the psychiatric condition causes or worsens sleep apnea, which is an airway blockage problem. (7 of 18 decisions read; e.g. 22017456, 21025419, A21006756)
• No medical opinion with reasoning supported the claim: only the veteran's own belief, or a private opinion that gave no rationale. (5 of 18 decisions read; e.g. 21007759, 21016009, 21020886)
• Obesity was found to be the main cause, and the evidence did not show the psychiatric condition or its medications caused the weight gain. (4 of 18 decisions read; e.g. 21045652, 24020222, 21020886)

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Sleep apnea secondary to low back (lumbar spine)

Secondary (caused or worsened by a service-connected condition)

78.6% granted of 112 decided cases (margin of error 70.1–85.2%). 88 granted, 24 denied, 92 sent back to VA (remanded, not decided), 4 dismissed.

What convinced the Board in granted cases

• The Board gave strong weight to private opinions that explained, step by step, how back pain limited exercise, led to weight gain and obesity, and in turn caused the sleep apnea, often citing medical studies. (13 of 15 decisions read; e.g. A24045302, A24057802, 24018021)
• VA opinions lost weight when they never addressed the obesity pathway, did not address aggravation, or were otherwise inadequate. (4 of 15 decisions read; e.g. A24057802, A25026466, A25036440)
• The Board also credited the veteran's own reports that pain kept him from exercising, and in one case accepted that opioid pain medicine for the back caused and worsened the sleep apnea. (4 of 15 decisions read; e.g. A24067613, A25036440, A25034668)

Common reasons in denied cases

• The Board denied when the evidence did not show the back condition caused the obesity, often because a VA examiner explained weight gain has many causes or the veteran had lost weight despite the back. (6 of 13 decisions read; e.g. A25008508, 22050221, 23041325)
• Many denials had a VA opinion against a link and no medical opinion on the other side, and the veteran's own belief or report of what doctors told him was not enough. (6 of 13 decisions read; e.g. 21062999, 21060037, A24056571)
• Some excerpts addressed direct service connection only, denied because service records showed no sleep apnea; one claim failed because no actual sleep apnea diagnosis was shown. (6 of 13 decisions read; e.g. 23011144, A24061652, 22002695)

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Sleep apnea secondary to sinusitis / rhinitis

Secondary (caused or worsened by a service-connected condition)

75.8% granted of 95 decided cases (margin of error 66.3–83.3%). 72 granted, 23 denied, 128 sent back to VA (remanded, not decided), 4 dismissed.

What convinced the Board in granted cases

• Negative VA opinions lost weight when they rested on wrong facts, such as no sinusitis diagnosis, were conclusory, ignored aggravation, or ignored the private opinion. (8 of 13 decisions read; e.g. A25003948, A25030654, A24012999)
• The Board credited opinions explaining how chronic nasal blockage or inflammation raises airway resistance and causes or worsens sleep apnea, often citing medical literature. (7 of 13 decisions read; e.g. A25033047, A25018571, A25003948)
• Lay statements, especially from spouses about snoring and breathing problems, supported the medical evidence. (4 of 13 decisions read; e.g. A24016177, A21004851, A25018571)

Common reasons in denied cases

• A thorough VA opinion explained that sinus or nasal problems do not block the throat airway, or that weight was the more likely cause, and no contrary medical opinion rebutted it. (7 of 13 decisions read; e.g. 21024624, 21061082, 22024368)
• The veteran's own belief that rhinitis or sinusitis caused his sleep apnea was not competent medical evidence. (5 of 13 decisions read; e.g. 21001592, 21059475, 21061908)
• Private opinions lost weight when they conflicted with the record, including the doctor's own treatment notes or service records showing no sleep problems. (2 of 13 decisions read, few decisions; e.g. 21017376, 22000688)

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Sleep apnea secondary to knee

Secondary (caused or worsened by a service-connected condition)

90.3% granted of 62 decided cases (margin of error 80.5–95.5%). 56 granted, 6 denied, 38 sent back to VA (remanded, not decided), 0 dismissed.

What convinced the Board in granted cases

• The Board granted when a private opinion explained each step: knee pain limited activity, which caused weight gain and obesity, which caused the sleep apnea that likely would not have occurred otherwise. These opinions were backed by literature and a record review. (12 of 15 decisions read; e.g. A24051321, A24009627, 23052235)
• VA opinions against the claim lost weight when they skipped aggravation, ignored obesity as the middle step, ignored the veteran's account of being unable to exercise, or relied on silent service records. (8 of 15 decisions read; e.g. A25006283, A25032266, A25035796)
• The Board credited the veteran's own statements that the knee condition kept him from exercising, as reports of pain and physical limits are within lay competence. (4 of 15 decisions read; e.g. A24067613, A25020145, A24055192)

Common reasons in denied cases

• The Board denied when thorough VA opinions found the weight gain came from diet, calorie intake, genetics, or lifestyle rather than the knee, or that the knee and sleep apnea are not medically related. (5 of 11 decisions read; e.g. A25008508, 23000887, 22015882)
• Private opinions lost weight when they rested on inaccurate or unsupported facts, or cited general studies on sleep disturbance that were not specific to this veteran's sleep apnea. (3 of 11 decisions read; e.g. A25008143, A24056220, A25025385)
• The Board denied when the record undercut the knee-to-obesity link, such as the veteran repeatedly losing weight despite the knee condition or keeping up vigorous exercise after the injury. (2 of 11 decisions read, few decisions; e.g. A25008508, A24056220)

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Sleep apnea secondary to obesity

Secondary (caused or worsened by a service-connected condition)

81% granted of 58 decided cases (margin of error 69.1–89.1%). 47 granted, 11 denied, 85 sent back to VA (remanded, not decided), 0 dismissed.

What convinced the Board in granted cases

• Private opinions won when they explained the full chain for this veteran: the service-connected condition limited activity or caused weight gain, the obesity led to sleep apnea, backed by medical literature. (6 of 13 decisions read; e.g. A25032091, A25007081, A21003516)
• VA opinions lost weight when they skipped whether the service-connected condition caused the obesity, ignored the veteran's obese BMI, relied on general concepts, or did not address aggravation. (4 of 13 decisions read; e.g. A24070113, A25017359, A25032091)
• When favorable and unfavorable evidence was roughly balanced, the Board resolved doubt for the veteran, treating obesity as an intermediate step. (2 of 13 decisions read, few decisions; e.g. A24046530, A25031917)

Common reasons in denied cases

• Private opinions lost weight when they were vague about whether the service-connected condition caused the obesity, or ignored record facts like an active lifestyle, diet, alcohol, or smoking. (3 of 11 decisions read; e.g. A24068250, A24056220, A24065148)
• The Board found the service-connected condition did not cause the obesity, citing records of vigorous exercise or repeated weight loss and VA opinions pointing to diet, genetics, and lifestyle. (5 of 11 decisions read; e.g. A25008508, A24056220, 22010959)
• Some records had no favorable medical opinion at all, leaving only negative VA opinions. (2 of 11 decisions read, few decisions; e.g. 22015882, A25010868)

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Sleep apnea secondary to diabetes

Secondary (caused or worsened by a service-connected condition)

52.6% granted of 57 decided cases (margin of error 39.9–65.0%). 30 granted, 27 denied, 67 sent back to VA (remanded, not decided), 3 dismissed.

What convinced the Board in granted cases

• The Board granted when a medical opinion explained that diabetes or its treatment caused weight gain or obesity, which in turn caused or worsened the sleep apnea. (6 of 12 decisions read; e.g. A25014762, A24056123, A22016083)
• Private opinions that reviewed the record, cited medical studies, and gave clear reasoning were given strong weight, often as the only adequate opinion. (7 of 12 decisions read; e.g. A22016083, 21026079, A23001843)
• Negative VA opinions lost weight when they skipped obesity as an in-between step, did not address aggravation, used an outdated standard, or gave no rationale. (4 of 12 decisions read; e.g. A25014762, A24056123, A23017683)

Common reasons in denied cases

• A thorough VA opinion went unrebutted, finding the sleep apnea came from airway anatomy, obesity that predated diabetes, or that sleep apnea affects diabetes rather than the reverse. (7 of 12 decisions read; e.g. 21052563, 21009847, 22050311)
• The only evidence of a link was the veteran's or family's own belief, which is not competent medical evidence on a complex question. (4 of 12 decisions read; e.g. 22042133, 21022857, 24016666)

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Sleep apnea secondary to asthma / COPD / lung condition

Secondary (caused or worsened by a service-connected condition)

60.7% granted of 56 decided cases (margin of error 47.6–72.4%). 34 granted, 22 denied, 96 sent back to VA (remanded, not decided), 6 dismissed.

What convinced the Board in granted cases

• The Board granted when a private or treating doctor's opinion explained how asthma or COPD causes or worsens sleep apnea, cited medical literature, and reviewed the veteran's own history and statements. (7 of 10 decisions read; e.g. A24006353, A25030856, A25027341)
• Negative VA opinions lost weight when they were conclusory, called a link speculative without addressing the literature, ignored the veteran's account or the private opinion, or used the wrong legal standard. (6 of 10 decisions read; e.g. A25006184, A23025204, A24041000)

Common reasons in denied cases

• Most denials rested on an unrebutted VA opinion explaining that sleep apnea comes from upper airway collapse, which asthma, COPD, or lung disease do not cause, after review of the file and the veteran's contentions. (8 of 11 decisions read; e.g. 21005405, A24061008, 21021540)
• General studies showing asthma patients have more sleep apnea did not outweigh a VA opinion on this veteran, and the veteran's own belief about the cause was not competent medical evidence. (3 of 11 decisions read; e.g. 21059096, A21009779, 21023565)
• A few claims failed for other reasons, such as no sleep apnea diagnosis after missed exams, or a long gap after service with no private opinion submitted. (2 of 11 decisions read, few decisions; e.g. 23036216, 21023565)

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Sleep apnea secondary to tinnitus

Secondary (caused or worsened by a service-connected condition)

55% granted of 40 decided cases (margin of error 39.8–69.3%). 22 granted, 18 denied, 85 sent back to VA (remanded, not decided), 4 dismissed.

What convinced the Board in granted cases

• The Board gave great weight to private opinions that reviewed the record and the veteran's history, cited medical studies, and explained how tinnitus disrupts sleep, including REM sleep, leading to or worsening sleep apnea. (8 of 14 decisions read; e.g. A25015035, A25008741, A24069030)
• VA opinions against the claim lost weight when they gave no reasoning on aggravation, did not respond to the favorable opinion's findings, used the wrong causation standard, or did not identify the literature they relied on. (5 of 14 decisions read; e.g. A25008741, A24057193, A25032534)
• When favorable and unfavorable opinions were equally reasoned, or equally flawed, the Board found the evidence balanced and resolved the doubt for the veteran. (3 of 14 decisions read; e.g. A21000646, A24045055, 21002154)

Common reasons in denied cases

• A reasoned VA opinion found obesity or airway anatomy the likely cause and noted no medical literature showing tinnitus causes sleep apnea, and the Board found it more persuasive than the opposing evidence. (5 of 10 decisions read; e.g. A25001129, A23015313, A24010578)
• Private opinions lost weight when they were conclusory without a rationale, ignored the medical history, treated sleep disturbance from other conditions as the same as sleep apnea, or themselves named obesity as the main cause. (3 of 10 decisions read; e.g. A24010578, A23015313, A25001129)
• There was no medical opinion supporting a link, only the veteran's own belief, and sleep apnea was first diagnosed many years after service. (5 of 10 decisions read; e.g. 21009870, 24000737, A24061167)

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Sleep apnea secondary to insomnia / sleep disorder

Secondary (caused or worsened by a service-connected condition)

71.1% granted of 38 decided cases (margin of error 55.2–83.0%). 27 granted, 11 denied, 33 sent back to VA (remanded, not decided), 4 dismissed.

What convinced the Board in granted cases

• The Board granted when a medical opinion, usually private, reviewed the record, discussed the veteran's own symptoms, and cited medical literature applied to this veteran. (8 of 13 decisions read; e.g. 23026348, A24069053, A25013827)
• Many grants accepted a chain: the service-connected insomnia or psychiatric condition, or its medications, led to weight gain and obesity, and the obesity caused or worsened the sleep apnea. (7 of 13 decisions read; e.g. A25022436, A24059165, A25034849)
• Negative VA opinions lost weight when they addressed only direct service connection, skipped aggravation, or ignored submitted articles or the effect of medications. (4 of 13 decisions read; e.g. A25006490, 23018107, A24069053)

Common reasons in denied cases

• The Board denied when the only medical opinions were negative VA opinions, finding sleep apnea not caused or worsened by the service-connected condition, and no medical opinion rebutted them. (4 of 10 decisions read; e.g. 21033115, A25001300, 21060196)
• There was no sleep apnea diagnosis, or the sleep complaints were symptoms already covered by the service-connected psychiatric condition, or no separate insomnia diagnosis existed. (4 of 10 decisions read; e.g. A25031954, A24032871, A25027382)
• Service records showed no sleep apnea symptoms, and the veteran's own belief about the cause was not competent medical evidence. (4 of 10 decisions read; e.g. 22049332, 23011309, 22017329)

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Sleep apnea secondary to hypertension

Secondary (caused or worsened by a service-connected condition)

48.6% granted of 35 decided cases (margin of error 33.0–64.4%). 17 granted, 18 denied, 88 sent back to VA (remanded, not decided), 2 dismissed.

What convinced the Board in granted cases

• The Board granted when a medical opinion cited medical literature and explained how hypertension contributes to or worsens sleep apnea, including the two-way relationship between them. (6 of 9 decisions read; e.g. A25018000, 24026100, A24011176)
• Private opinions built on a record review, exam, and the veteran's history outweighed VA opinions that were conclusory or claimed no supporting literature. (5 of 9 decisions read; e.g. A24041926, 24026100, A25018000)
• VA's own treating physicians or examiners sometimes supplied the favorable link, noting hypertension as a known risk factor. (3 of 9 decisions read; e.g. 22042518, 24006700, A24011176)

Common reasons in denied cases

• A literature-based VA opinion went unrebutted, explaining that sleep apnea is a mechanical airway blockage and that an association with hypertension does not show causation or worsening. (7 of 12 decisions read; e.g. A24026949, 21018148, 21008619)
• Private opinions got little weight when they gave no rationale or only broad statements not tied to the veteran's own facts. (2 of 12 decisions read, few decisions; e.g. A24026949, A21004990)
• The only link was the veteran's own belief, which is not competent medical evidence on this question. (4 of 12 decisions read; e.g. 21076826, A24028161, 21038328)

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Sleep apnea secondary to deviated septum

Secondary (caused or worsened by a service-connected condition)

72.7% granted of 33 decided cases (margin of error 55.8–84.9%). 24 granted, 9 denied, 34 sent back to VA (remanded, not decided), 1 dismissed.

What convinced the Board in granted cases

• The Board granted when a private, treating, or ENT doctor reviewed the history and explained that the deviated septum or nasal blockage contributed to or worsened the sleep apnea. (9 of 15 decisions read; e.g. A24009240, 21023956, A25016069)
• Negative VA opinions lost weight when they were internally inconsistent or conclusory, skipped aggravation, ignored the veteran's own circumstances, or rested on no in-service treatment. (6 of 15 decisions read; e.g. A24010386, A24012754, A25016069)
• The Board accepted the nasal condition as a contributing factor; it did not need to be the only or main cause of the sleep apnea. (5 of 15 decisions read; e.g. A24012754, A21003447, A24008692)

Common reasons in denied cases

• The Board denied when a thorough VA opinion found no link and no medical opinion rebutted it. (6 of 9 decisions read; e.g. 22018236, 21071180, 21045244)
• The veteran's or spouse's belief that the nasal condition caused the sleep apnea was not competent medical evidence. (4 of 9 decisions read; e.g. 21045342, 21045244, 21071180)
• Examiners found another cause more likely, mainly obesity or high body weight, or found no significant nasal blockage. (3 of 9 decisions read; e.g. 22024368, 21045342, 21045244)

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Sleep apnea secondary to heart disease

Secondary (caused or worsened by a service-connected condition)

Small sample: 27 decided cases, too few for a reliable percentage. 12 granted, 15 denied, 54 sent back to VA (remanded, not decided), 1 dismissed.

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Sleep apnea secondary to GERD / acid reflux

Secondary (caused or worsened by a service-connected condition)

Small sample: 22 decided cases, too few for a reliable percentage. 11 granted, 11 denied, 28 sent back to VA (remanded, not decided), 3 dismissed.

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Sleep apnea secondary to traumatic brain injury (TBI)

Secondary (caused or worsened by a service-connected condition)

Small sample: 19 decided cases, too few for a reliable percentage. 13 granted, 6 denied, 25 sent back to VA (remanded, not decided), 0 dismissed.

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Sleep apnea secondary to foot (flat feet / plantar fasciitis)

Secondary (caused or worsened by a service-connected condition)

Small sample: 18 decided cases, too few for a reliable percentage. 14 granted, 4 denied, 6 sent back to VA (remanded, not decided), 0 dismissed.

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Sleep apnea secondary to ankle

Secondary (caused or worsened by a service-connected condition)

Small sample: 17 decided cases, too few for a reliable percentage. 14 granted, 3 denied, 16 sent back to VA (remanded, not decided), 1 dismissed.

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Sleep apnea secondary to neck (cervical spine)

Secondary (caused or worsened by a service-connected condition)

Small sample: 16 decided cases, too few for a reliable percentage. 10 granted, 6 denied, 27 sent back to VA (remanded, not decided), 1 dismissed.

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Sleep apnea secondary to migraine / headaches

Secondary (caused or worsened by a service-connected condition)

Small sample: 15 decided cases, too few for a reliable percentage. 8 granted, 7 denied, 31 sent back to VA (remanded, not decided), 2 dismissed.

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Sleep apnea secondary to sarcoidosis / pulmonary fibrosis

Secondary (caused or worsened by a service-connected condition)

Small sample: 10 decided cases, too few for a reliable percentage. 5 granted, 5 denied, 10 sent back to VA (remanded, not decided), 0 dismissed.

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