Sleep apnea decisions — 2020

The Board has granted service connection for deviated septum and obstructive sleep apnea as a residual of deviated septum repair. The right knee disability and residuals of a deviated septum repair are remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral painful hips, knees, ankles, sleep apnea and high blood pressure are remanded due to the need for further development regarding his service dates and VA examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's condition was incurred during active service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbosacral spine disability and an increased rating for his left shoulder disability, finding that there was no evidence linking these disabilities to his active service or any service-connected conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea did not originate during his active duty service and is not related to any in-service injury, event, or disease. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran's sleep apnea was incurred during service.

The claim to reopen service connection for bipolar disorder is granted. The claims for service connection for ulcer, chronic bronchitis, COPD, sinusitis, OSA, and GERD are denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hypertension, erectile dysfunction, and obstructive sleep apnea due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The Veteran's hypertension is being evaluated based on herbicide exposure, while erectile dysfunction and obstructive sleep apnea are being evaluated without a specific exposure basis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is at least as likely as not caused by his service-connected PTSD, and therefore grants service connection for this condition on a secondary basis.

The Board has remanded the case because the VA examiner's opinion did not adequately address whether OSA is related to service or PTSD, and if so, whether it is caused by PTSD. The Veteran needs a new examination to provide these opinions.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for sleep apnea due to insufficient consideration of the Veteran's lay history and failure to provide a rationale addressing causation or aggravation by service-connected hypertension.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder was granted, and the other claims were remanded or denied. The effective date is not specified.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that there was no evidence to support a causal relationship between his current condition and his active service or any service-connected disability.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and major depressive disorder.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea and breathing disorder are not considered to have begun during service or be related to any in-service injury, event, or disease.,The Veteran’s service-connected disabilities did not render him so nearly helpless as to require the regular aid and attendance of another person.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is not service-connected, but his PTSD remains service-connected with a 30% rating. The decision on the sleep apnea issue is denied.

The Board denied the claim of service connection for the cause of death, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between any service-connected disability and the Veteran's death.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hip arthritis and obstructive sleep apnea due to insufficient examination opinions regarding their relationship to service.

The Board has ordered a remand to address the etiology of the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea, specifically whether it had its onset during service or is related to his PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome was denied as there is no evidence of a current diagnosis.,For the period prior to December 6, 2016, the Veteran's lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis was rated at 10 percent.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate reasons and bases in the previous decision, specifically regarding the relationship between the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability and his OSA. The case is now being reviewed with a new VA medical opinion.