Sleep apnea decisions — 2019

The Board has decided to remand the case due to lack of substantial compliance with previous remand directives, and that corrective action is necessary. The AOJ should arrange for an addendum medical advisory opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's sleep apnea (OSA).

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical nexus evidence and outstanding private treatment records. The claims are related to COPD, diabetes mellitus, neuropathy of various extremities, and sleep apnea.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for further development regarding his exposure to herbicides and a VA examination to assess his respiratory disorders.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea and is remanding the issue of service connection for hypertension due to its potential link to the Veteran's sleep apnea.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The Veteran's claim for service connection for renal failure with kidney removal and sleep apnea has been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for service connection based on exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune or herbicide exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's loud snoring during service is related to his current condition. The effective date of this decision will be determined based on when the claim was received.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional evidence and examination. The issues include various psychiatric conditions, sleep apnea, chronic fatigue syndrome, muscle pain, joint pain, and GERD.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of June 15, 2009 for a 30 percent rating for sleep apnea. The decision found that VA did not have a duty to notify the Veteran about the change in regulation and that there was no legal basis to grant his claim.

The Veteran's diagnosed sleep apnea syndrome is found to be related to his service-connected major depressive disorder, and the appeal for this condition has been granted.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary prior to appellate review due to the need for a VA examination to assess the etiology and severity of the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea, migraine headaches, and respiratory disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's eye disabilities, specifically pseudophakia and aphakia. The VA is instructed to obtain additional evidence from the appellant and provide a new opinion by a VA examiner.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's sleep apnea, including whether it is related to his service-connected unspecified depressive disorder or aggravated by it.

The Veteran's service connection claim for obstructive sleep apnea is granted as the evidence shows he developed this condition during his last period of active duty.

The Veteran's claims for a higher rating for lumbosacral strain and TDIU are being remanded due to the submission of new evidence without a waiver, and because a decision on one claim could significantly impact the other.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and examination, including obtaining updated VA treatment records, audiometry test results, and a sleep study evaluation. The Veteran's hearing loss and sleep apnea claims are also being remanded.

The Veteran's chronic obstructive sleep apnea is found to have had its onset during his period of active duty, and service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for sleep apnea, a skin disorder, androgenic alopecia, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and respiratory disorder due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service or any known clinical diagnosis.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's sleep apnea is related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability, right knee disability (secondary to service-connected right foot disability), hepatitis C in remission, sleep apnea, and neurocognitive disorder. However, the Veteran's initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to his testimony of worsening symptoms.