OSA caused by cervical problems?

Can't remember if I ever posted this - something I found in Jan. (didn't keep citation, don't know where it's from or when published) but thought someone might be interested.

"Results of recent research, which confirm the correlation between VBI (VERTEBROBASILAR INSUFFICIENCY) and OSA, contribute to our hypothesis. High prevalence and pathogenesis of OSA in patients with VBI can be explained by hypoxia of the medulla oblongata during sleep (sleep+positional VBI --> hypoxia of the medulla oblongata --> hypoxia of the respiratory centre which regulates breathing function hypoxia of the motor nuclei of the IX, X and XII cranial nerves whose neurons regulate the tone in upper airway muscles (IX, X) and tongue (XII) --> OSA).

The development of OSA in certain patients with VBI is probably in close correlation with the degree of hypoxia of the medulla oblongata during sleep (moderate VBI --> OSA; severe VBI --> central or mixed sleep apnea). Considering the fact that VBI of vascular and/or compressive etiology can be the primary cause of OSA, Doppler sonography of VB system (VBS) with the positional functional tests should be included in the diagnostic algorithm for OSA. Since functional and organic disorders of cervical spine can either cause circulation disturbances in VBS or aggravate insufficient circulation, especially during sleep in certain head and neck positions, detailed examination of cervical spine including physiatric examination, manual functional examination and radiologic examination should become a part of routine examination in patients with either suspected or confirmed OSA.

Circulation in VBS can be improved or normalized by appropriate therapy for vascular disorders (i.e. stenting of the vertebral artery), and the compressive effect of cervical spine disorders on circulation in VBS can be reduced or eliminated by an appropriate therapy for cervical spine disorders (for example, manual therapy, physical therapy, kinesiotherapy, surgery etc.). OSA symptoms can be significantly reduced or completely cease after an improvement or normalization of circulation in VBS."

following

Looks like this: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21644279

Looks like a non-starter, it's from 2011 and there's nothing referencing it.

I am no doctor, but to this layman the link from VBI to collapse of the airway seems highly tenuous with too many intermediate steps. I could understand if VBI was linked to central apnea, but too many doctors never consider anything beyond obstructive.