Sleep apnea decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded four issues for further development: initial evaluation for a back disability, service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to a back disability, service connection for a right knee disability, and service connection for a left knee disability. The Veteran's claims are being reviewed due to the lack of adequate medical opinions regarding his disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea and a headache disorder, finding that the evidence did not support a nexus between these conditions and service.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of an opinion on whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is secondary to his service-connected hernia.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's OSA was not incurred in or aggravated by service nor caused or aggravated by his service-connected disorders, including a psychiatric disorder. Therefore, the claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, finding that a new VA medical opinion is needed to address whether his sleep apnea was caused or aggravated by his service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded four issues related to service connection for sleep apnea, asthma, and joint/muscle conditions. The Veteran's claims are pending further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a respiratory disability, sleep apnea, and headaches have been reopened.,Service connection has been granted for the Veteran's diagnosed respiratory disability (allergic rhinitis and sinusitis) and sleep apnea.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that there was no evidence of its onset during military service and that it is not related to his service-connected PTSD. The decision also found that the condition did not have its onset due to asbestos exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's currently diagnosed obstructive sleep apnea had its onset during service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for a new VA examination to evaluate the current severity of the Veteran's lumbar spine condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea due to insufficient evidence in the record regarding whether his current condition is related to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to lack of evidence linking his current disabilities to military service, including herbicide agent exposure. The Veteran was found not to meet the criteria for TDIU as he had multiple service-connected disabilities rated at 90% combined.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea did not manifest during or as a result of his active duty service and is therefore denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for sleep apnea and a higher rating for irritable bowel syndrome due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's claim for increased irritable bowel syndrome remains pending.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and higher ratings for various disabilities, including sinus disability, pulmonary disability, sleep apnea, patellofemoral pain syndrome of both knees, and TDIU. The VA is required to provide further examinations and readjudicate the cases.

The Veteran's sleep apnea was not incurred in or aggravated by his first or second periods of service. The Board found that the preexisting condition worsened during his third period of active duty, but this aggravation is not considered to be due to a supervening condition.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for prostate cancer residuals and TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of his symptoms.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic obstructive sleep apnea has been granted, but the appeal is dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal.,Service connection for a left knee condition, including as secondary to the Veteran’s service-connected back disability, was denied. The Board found that there is no evidence of a current left knee condition and that it did not manifest within one year after separation from service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate VA medical opinion regarding the service connection for sleep apnea. The Veteran's claim will be reviewed again with a new examination and medical opinion.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is secondary to his service-connected constrictive bronchiolitis and grants service connection for this condition.