Sleep apnea decisions — 2021

The Board has granted service connection for left and right knee disabilities, migraines, and a sleep disorder (including sleep apnea and insomnia). The case is remanded for further examination regarding the Veteran's claimed sleep disorder.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea, finding that there was no evidence showing a direct relationship between his current condition and his active duty service. The Board also found insufficient evidence linking his sleep apnea to any service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been granted. The claim for service connection for sleep apnea as a result of service-connected disability is remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for sleep apnea, heart disability, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension due to incomplete compliance with previous remand directives. Additional development is required including obtaining updated VA treatment records and a new addendum opinion from a VA clinician.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration, including obtaining a VA psychiatric examination and issuing a Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC).

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date for his service connection of obstructive sleep apnea, finding that the first claim was filed on August 19, 2014.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, secondary service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to PTSD, secondary service connection for a heart disability status post implanted cardiac pacemaker with sick sinus syndrome as secondary to PTSD and obstructive sleep apnea, and secondary service connection for erectile dysfunction as secondary to PTSD.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a respiratory disorder and sleep apnea, finding that there is no evidence to support these conditions began during or are otherwise related to service.

The Veteran's back disability, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy have been granted service connection. The Veteran's diabetes mellitus and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) have not been granted service connection.,Service connection for the Veteran's back disability is granted as it is etiologically related to his service. Service connection for left lower extremity and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy are also granted as they are caused by his back disability.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, migraine headache disability, bilateral flatfoot (pes planus), and TBI have been granted. The Board found that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his service-connected PTSD.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of obstructive sleep apnea, finding that it did not have its onset during his active service and is not otherwise etiologically related to such service. The Board also found that OSA was not caused or aggravated by a service-connected disability, specifically posttraumatic stress disorder with insomnia disorder.

The Veteran's right shoulder scar was granted a 10 percent disability rating from December 21, 2016 onwards. Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea was also granted.,A compensable rating for the right shoulder scar prior to December 21, 2016 was denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected conditions contributed to his death. The appellant seeks service connection for the cause of her husband's death, which was caused by multiple factors including obesity and hypertension.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and lung disorder as secondary to PTSD. The decision is based on new evidence provided by the Veteran's wife during a hearing, which suggests that the Veteran's snoring began in 1972 when he was still in service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea, including whether it is related to his service-connected sinusitis.

The Board has determined that there is not substantial compliance with previous remand directives and thus the cases are being returned for further development. The Veteran's claims of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and low back disability are both being remanded due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the cases of sleep apnea and TDIU due to new evidence received after an addendum VA medical opinion. The Veteran's service-connected allergic rhinitis is alleged to have caused or aggravated his sleep apnea.

The Board has granted service connection for a back disability and neck disability, but denied service connection for right knee disability and sleep apnea.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development regarding an effective date earlier than October 21, 2019 for a 40 percent rating for lumbosacral strain (lumbar strain).

The Board has granted service connection for OSA, finding that it is secondary to the Veteran's service-connected deviated septum.