Sleep apnea decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date for service connection of obstructive sleep apnea, finding that the earliest date a claim could be considered was March 10, 2016, when the Veteran filed his intent to file a claim.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is found to be at least as likely as not related to his military service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's bilateral ankle disability and sleep apnea appeals have been dismissed.,Service connection for acid reflux and constipation to include on a secondary basis has also been dismissed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and atrial flutter, as these conditions are claimed to be related to his service-connected psychiatric disorder. The VA is instructed to obtain an addendum opinion addressing whether the Veteran’s sleep apnea is proximately due or aggravated by his service-connected psychiatric condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is etiologically related to his active service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to inadequate examination reports and missing or unavailable service treatment records. The Veteran's STRs are largely illegible or missing, and VA has a heightened duty to assist in such cases.

The Board has remanded the service connection claims for a cervical spine disorder and residuals of traumatic brain injury (TBI) to include a headache disorder, as well as the SMC and SMP claims. The issues are being remanded due to conflicting opinions regarding whether the Veteran's falls were caused or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and a rating in excess of 60 percent for prostate cancer between July 1, 2015 and April 13, 2018 were denied. The TDIU claim was remanded.

The Board has requested a medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea. The current examination report does not fully address the questions posed by the Board, particularly concerning whether the reported symptoms are consistent with OSA having onset during service and whether OSA was caused or aggravated by any service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the issues of TDIU and nonservice-connected pension benefits due to incomplete information provided by the Veteran.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a respiratory condition other than sarcoidosis and sleep apnea, as well as his right wrist disorder and bilateral ankle conditions. The evidence did not support separate diagnoses or a causal link to service.,The Board found that the preponderance of the evidence was against finding that the Veteran had a separately diagnosable respiratory condition other than his service-connected sarcoidosis and sleep apnea, and denied his claims for right wrist disorder and bilateral ankle conditions.

The Board denied a higher rating for the Veteran's lumbosacral strain with osteoarthritis of the thoracic spine, finding that his disability did not meet or more nearly approximate the criteria for a rating in excess of 20 percent.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's sleep apnea may be related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus and/or hypertension, but more evidence is needed for a final decision.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability, right shoulder/upper clavicular radiculopathy with RUE carpal tunnel syndrome, and LUE carpal tunnel syndrome are not rated higher than the currently assigned ratings. The Veteran’s OSA with residuals of sarcoid is also not rated higher.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and hypertension, both secondary to PTSD, have been denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for irritable colon syndrome, also secondary to PTSD, has been denied. The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for GERD (likely related to PTSD) for further review.

The Veteran's GERD is found to have begun during service and the Board grants service connection for this condition. The issue of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is remanded.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the claim for service connection for sleep apnea.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea, finding no evidence of its onset during active service or within one year after discharge. The Board also found insufficient medical opinion to support a secondary service connection claim based on PTSD.

The Veteran's hypertension has been granted service connection. The left hip, right ankle, and knee disorders have not been found to be related to service.,Obstructive sleep apnea was also denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.