Sleep apnea decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient information regarding whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is related to his service-connected PTSD and obesity. The VA needs to provide an opinion on these issues.

The Board denied service connection for lumbosacral strain and acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that the evidence did not support a causal relationship to service.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of sleep apnea and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and depression) for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back and right knee disabilities are service-connected, with no specific date provided.

The Board has remanded the cases due to inadequate VA medical opinions regarding the Veteran's claims for service connection for sinus disorder, obstructive sleep apnea/sleep disorder, and respiratory disorder. The Veteran contends these conditions are related to his service at Ground Zero following the September 11th terrorist attacks in New York City.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's service-connected asthma and anxiety, and his sleep apnea. The examiner is requested to provide an addendum opinion addressing obesity as a potential intermediate step in this causal chain.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and migraine headaches due to insufficient medical opinions provided in previous decisions.

The appeal for a separate rating for bilateral plantar fasciitis is dismissed as the issue has already been adjudicated. Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and left shoulder disability are granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea is at least as likely as not aggravated by his service-connected sinusitis, and thus grants service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to service-connected sinusitis.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to PTSD due to insufficient opinions regarding aggravation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, insomnia, upper respiratory disability, and right shoulder disability are mixed. Service connection is granted for insomnia due to PTSD but denied for sleep apnea and the other disabilities.

The Board has decided that service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is denied. The bilateral arm pain, swelling, and blistering issue is remanded due to inconsistencies in the medical records.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating issues due to conflicting evidence and need for additional examination. The Veteran is not entitled to a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for TBI prior to December 17, 2020, and entitlement to a disability rating in excess of 70 percent thereafter for conversion disorder with mixed symptoms with other specified trauma and stressor-related disorder and TBI. The Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, cervical and lumbar spinal damage are also remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for obstructive sleep apnea and heart disability secondary to PTSD due to a lack of adequate examination opinions addressing whether these conditions are caused or aggravated by PTSD.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea initially occurred during his active service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's traumatic brain injury is granted service connection.,The Veteran's PTSD is granted service connection based on in-service fear of hostile military activity.,Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is denied as the evidence does not establish a link to service or PTSD.,Service connection for left testicle varicocele is granted, with the condition dating back to active duty.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine was granted an initial 20 percent disability rating from January 13, 2015 to August 19, 2020.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for COPD and sleep apnea due to a pre-decisional error. The TDIU claim is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the COPD and sleep apnea issues.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an unspecified anxiety disorder is remanded due to the submission of new and relevant evidence.,Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and dementia are denied as there is no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is found to have begun during her active service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition.