Sleep apnea decisions — 2021

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's symptoms began during his active duty service and have continued since then.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete opinions and new evidence. The Veteran's OSA is being reviewed for direct service connection, secondary service connection, and aggravation of obesity by bipolar disorder.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a left wrist condition is denied.,Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is granted, as it is proximately due to his service-connected PTSD, asthma, and orthopedic conditions.,The Veteran's claims for lumbosacral spine strain with degenerative arthritis and right ankle condition are remanded for further development.,Service connection for a right ankle condition is remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a lack of VA examinations and insufficient medical evidence. The Veteran is requested to provide further private or VA medical records, and he will be scheduled for VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed disabilities.

The Board dismissed the claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for coagulase negative staphylococcus of the right knee due to a withdrawal by the Veteran. The issues of service connection for an eye disorder, obstructive sleep apnea, and narcolepsy are remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for chronic laryngitis, asthma, and obstructive sleep apnea due to insufficient etiology opinions. The Veteran needs a new VA examination to determine if he currently has these conditions and their likely etiology.

The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for OSA due to insufficient consideration of lay evidence regarding the Veteran's sleep problems prior to his official diagnosis.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that it is at least as likely as not proximately due to her service-connected PTSD and orthopedic disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining an addendum opinion regarding whether his service-connected anxiety disorder caused obesity.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 20 percent, which is the maximum rating available under VA regulations. The appeal for an increased rating is denied.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis of sleep apnea is not causally related to active service and does not meet the criteria for secondary service connection due to his service-connected allergic rhinitis with chronic sinusitis.

The Board has determined that the VA opinions obtained on remand are inadequate and requires further development for both sleep apnea and PTSD claims.

The Board has denied service connection for Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Left Shoulder Disability, and Back Disability. Service connection is granted for the Back Disability but remains pending as it was remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for migraine headaches. The claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is remanded.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted a 70 percent rating prior to December 11, 2019. The Board found the evidence did not support a higher rating for PTSD at any time during the appeal period. The claims of entitlement to an initial compensable rating for tension headaches and service connection for OSA are remanded due to inadequate VA examinations. The TDIU claim is also remanded as it is intertwined with the other issues.

The Board has remanded the claims for hallux valgus, TBI, acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD), fibromyalgia, musculoskeletal joint pain of wrist, shoulders, and neck, and sleep apnea due to incomplete records and need for further examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea began in service and is related to his active duty, granting service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a lack of medical opinions regarding the etiology of his conditions, particularly whether they are related to exposure to toxins in Southwest Asia during his military service.

The Veteran's service connection claim for obstructive sleep apnea is granted as the evidence shows that his condition had its onset during service.

The Board has denied service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to PTSD and remanded the issue of service connection for kidney disability, including as related to exposure to ionizing radiation. The Veteran is advised to file a Supplemental Claim if he wishes to continue his appeal.