Sleep apnea decisions — 2021

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for VA examinations to determine the etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Board denied service connection for a low back condition, left hip condition, and sleep apnea. The Veteran's esophageal reflux claim was not addressed as it does not fall under the scope of service connection.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient development and lack of adequate medical opinions regarding service connection for sleep apnea, specifically on a secondary basis. The Veteran's major depressive disorder and/or chronic fatigue syndrome are being examined to determine if they caused or aggravated his obesity, which in turn caused his sleep apnea.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a heart disability, hypertension, and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) due to incomplete records. Additional VA examinations are needed to consider the Veteran's periods of Guard/Reserve Active Service.

The Veteran's PTSD, unspecified depressive disorder, and stimulant use disorder are rated at 70 percent prior to January 10, 2014. The Board denied a higher rating due to the severity of his symptoms not warranting a 100 percent rating.,Tension headaches were granted a 10 percent rating effective February 1, 2017 and a 50 percent rating from that date forward.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for vertigo and sleep apnea due to inadequate VA examinations. The Veteran is entitled to a new examination to determine if his conditions are related to his active service.

The Veteran's cervical strain disability is being remanded for a new VA examination to determine the extent and severity of her service-connected condition, including any additional diagnoses. The examiner must provide an opinion on whether these additional diagnoses are related to the service-connected cervical strain.,A new VA examination is needed to address whether the Veteran’s RUE disabilities (other than cervical radiculopathy) are secondary to her service-connected right shoulder and cervical spine disabilities or if they have a separate etiology. The examiner must differentiate between symptoms attributable to the service-connected condition and those attributable to nonservice-connected conditions.,The Veteran's asthma is being remanded for a new VA examination to determine whether it was caused by environmental exposures during Desert Storm/Shield, aggravated by her service-connected allergic rhinitis, or has a separate etiology. The examiner must provide an opinion on the relationship between these factors.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), finding that it is aggravated by his service-connected other specified trauma and stressor related disorder.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and obstructive sleep apnea, finding that there was no evidence of a direct or secondary relationship to his service-connected thyroidectomy.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for OSA, a foot disability, and an effective date prior to January 11, 2016 for SMC under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s).

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including lumbosacral strain, cubital tunnel syndrome, and other conditions, have prevented him from obtaining or following substantially gainful employment since August 1, 2009.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss is granted. The claims for service connection for a visual perception disorder, sleep apnea (also claimed as breathing condition), and PTSD are remanded.

The appeal for service connection of obstructive sleep apnea is dismissed due to the appellant's death.

The Board has vacated its previous decision denying service connection for sleep apnea, secondary to coronary artery disease and atrial fibrillation. The case is now remanded for further review.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and remanded the issue of a compensable rating for migraine headaches.

The Board dismissed the appeal because the appellant died during the pendency of the appeal, and thus has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities met the schedular criteria for a TDIU from December 10, 2020. The Board remanded the matter of entitlement to a TDIU prior to that date.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for COPD, bronchial asthma, eczematous dermatitis, chronic sinusitis, cephalgia, and sleep apnea due to unresolved medical evidence.,No specific rating was assigned as all issues are currently being reviewed.

The Veteran's hypertension is not rated as compensable, and the Board has remanded for further evaluation of his OSA/asthma, left knee disabilities (flexion), instability, and limitation of extension.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, an acquired psychiatric disability, a respiratory condition including asthma and sleep apnea, and a back condition. The cases are remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.