Sleep apnea decisions — 2021

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining an opinion on whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities caused or aggravated his obesity and if that led to his obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board denied service connection for sleep disability, including obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), claimed as due to service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The Veteran's OSA was found not to be caused or aggravated by his PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate addendum opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) caused or aggravated his sleep apnea. The case is now back for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's upper airway resistance syndrome, later changed to obstructive sleep apnea, was caused by his active service and grants the claim for service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, finding that there is no evidence to support a relationship between his current condition and his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for GERD and sleep apnea due to incomplete opinions in the February 2015 VA examination reports. The Veteran is seeking service connection for these conditions, which are currently considered new claims.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder. The issue of entitlement to a TDIU due to service-connected disabilities is remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, left shoulder disability, and back disability due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, hypertension, and chronic kidney disease as secondary to a service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder. The claims of service connection for coronary artery disease (CAD), Type II diabetes mellitus, liver disorder, and erectile dysfunction are remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, finding that there is no evidence of an in-service disease or injury relating to sleep apnea and concluding that it was less likely than not caused by or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD with insomnia, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for psoriasis vulgaris and rosacea, finding that there was no evidence of chloracne or other acneform disease consistent with chloracne during service. The current skin disorders are not presumed to be due to herbicide exposure.

The Board has remanded the claims for sleep apnea, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The RO is instructed to obtain service treatment records from the Veteran's reserve service and determine his periods of ACDUTRA and INACDUTRA. They are also required to obtain a new opinion on whether these conditions were caused or aggravated by his service-connected psychiatric disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, increased ratings for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, due to insufficient evidence in the record. The issues have been returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development to address whether the Veteran's hypertension, GERD, and sleep apnea are related to his active duty service or secondary to his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's headaches, characterized as migraines and paroxysmal hemicrania, are rated at 50 percent disabling. The Board finds that the current rating adequately reflects her disability.,The Veteran's lumbosacral strain is currently rated at 20 percent. The Board finds that the current rating adequately reflects her disability.,The Veteran's cervical strain is currently rated at 20 percent. The Board finds that the current rating adequately reflects her disability.

The Board denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that the evidence does not support a link between the condition and service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for Type II diabetes mellitus and obstructive sleep apnea, finding that they are due to obesity resulting from his service-connected major depressive disorder. The case is now remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, as secondary to his service-connected disabilities, needs further development and a new medical opinion.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for right shoulder disability and cervical and lumbosacral spine disabilities due to lack of compliance with previous remand directives. The Veteran's current back disabilities are being requested to be addressed in a new VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction. The cases are remanded for additional examinations to determine if these conditions are proximately due or aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected sleep apnea.