Sleep apnea decisions — 2022

The Board has dismissed the claim for a compensable rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss. The claims of service connection for asbestosis and obstructive sleep apnea are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for COPD, hypertension, and sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected generalized anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder. The evidence is in equipoise on whether these conditions were caused by or aggravated by the service-connected psychiatric disorders.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that it did not have its onset in service and was not caused or aggravated by a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is granted. The Veteran's initial rating for hypertension remains at 10 percent.

The Veteran's hypertension is not caused or aggravated by his service-connected left lower extremity radiculopathy. The Board has also remanded the issues of service connection for a right leg condition, cervical spine condition, sleep apnea, and hand conditions due to incomplete medical opinions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for TDIU, finding that his service-connected disabilities did not render him unemployable prior to March 9, 2016.

The Veteran's service-connected obstructive sleep apnea requires the use of a CPAP machine, resulting in a 50% rating.

For the period prior to January 9, 2018, the Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.,The Veteran requires regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected back and left knee disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of obstructive sleep apnea, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between his current condition and his military service.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher disability rating for his lumbar spine condition has been dismissed as he expressed satisfaction with the June 2022 decision and requested to withdraw the appeal.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection for gastritis, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), sinusitis, and sleep apnea. The Veteran's right and left shin splints have been granted service connection as they are related to medical findings of bilateral shin splints during his ACDUTRA.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient information on whether the Veteran's service-connected PTSD caused his obesity, which in turn contributed to his obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, obstructive sleep apnea, sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, and asthma have been granted. The claim for chronic fatigue syndrome has been remanded.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spondylosis, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and migraine headaches should be remanded due to new evidence being added after a previous SSOC.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for sleep apnea due to insufficient evidence and a need for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's OSA. The case will be returned for further development and consideration.

The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disabilities have aggravated his migraine headache disability, and he is granted service connection for this aggravation. A total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is granted due to the combined effect of his service-connected conditions preventing him from securing or following substantially gainful employment. The issue of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea remains pending.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and remanded the issues of rating excess of 20 percent for lumbar spine disability and hepatitis C.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinions and internal inconsistencies. The Veteran's breathing problems, including obstructive sleep apnea, reversible airway disease, and/or asthma, are being reviewed again for a new examination.

The Veteran's service-connected obstructive sleep apnea and sinusitis are found to have caused his respiratory failure, leading to his death. The Board has granted the claim for service connection for cause of death.