Sleep apnea decisions — 2021

The Board has decided to remand the case due to errors in obtaining relevant medical records and failing to provide a VA examination. The Veteran's sleep apnea claim is now before the Board for further review.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and TDIU due to insufficient opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea. The case will be reviewed again with a new opinion.

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

The Board denied service connection for lumbosacral spine disability, left and right lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatica), and an increased rating for thoracic spine vertebral compression fractures. The Veteran's TDIU claim was also denied.,Service connection could not be established as the evidence did not show a link between the disabilities and service.

Entitlement to a higher rating for PTSD with associated depression and anxiety is denied. The Veteran's symptoms are more closely approximated by a 50 percent disability rating.,Entitlement to TDIU is denied as the evidence does not show that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities render her unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has granted entitlement to service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to the Veteran's obesity caused by his service-connected lumbosacral strain and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's sleep apnea, specifically whether it is caused or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD, obesity, left knee disability, or low back disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate nexus opinion from a February 2020 VA examiner regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected PTSD aggravated his sleep apnea. The claim is now pending for further review.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral pes planus and calcaneal spurs of the feet as secondary to bilateral knee replacements. The issue of service connection for OSA, secondary to PTSD, is remanded due to inadequate medical opinion.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is related to service, including its onset during service.

The Veteran's service-connected intervertebral disc syndrome with lumbosacral degenerative arthritis and strain is rated at 40 percent, but no higher, throughout the appeal period.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD, finding that the evidence is at least evenly balanced in favor of this determination.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions and additional development is needed.

The Board has found that the Veteran's claims for service connection for nasal disability and sleep apnea, to include as secondary to a claimed in-service injury, require additional medical opinions due to inconsistencies in the examination reports and need for more details on the alleged plane incident.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of OSA is remanded due to the need for a VA examination and further analysis.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea, finding that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether this disability began during active service.

The Board has decided to remand the case for a new opinion on whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is related to his service at Camp LeJeune. The initial claim was denied, but new evidence has been submitted and readjudication is warranted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of OSA is remanded due to the need for a VA examination and further analysis.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the relationship between his current OSA and active military service, as well as whether it was caused or permanently worsened by his service-connected diabetes mellitus type II disability and/or PTSD.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hammertoes, hypertension, muscle and joint disorders of various body parts, upper and lower gastrointestinal tract disorders, eye disorder, sleep apnea, surgical scars, and headache disorder due to incomplete service records and need for additional medical opinions.