Sleep apnea decisions — 2022

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and peripheral neuropathy of the extremities. The issues have been remanded due to incomplete records, need for new medical opinions, and consideration of the Veteran's lay statements regarding symptom onset.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service-connected. The Board has also granted service connection for lumbosacral strain, right foot condition, left foot condition, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Veteran's service connection claims for sleep apnea, diabetes mellitus type II (DMII), hypertension, and erectile dysfunction are granted. The Board also remanded the cases for evaluations on bilateral hearing loss and a mental health disorder.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea and its relation to his active duty service.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is related to service or secondary to his service-connected PTSD and diabetes mellitus.

The Board has vacated its decision and remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected low back disability, Parkinson's disease, left knee disability, bilateral hip disability, and TDIU prior to August 29, 2019. The rating for lumbosacral strain with arthritis remains at a 40 percent effective September 13, 2007.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to issues with URI, severe emphysematous disease, and sleep apnea. The VA will obtain additional medical records and provide a new opinion regarding these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is secondary to his service-connected PTSD and grants this claim.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a new VA opinion regarding whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is related to his active service, including his in-service complaints of sleep problems and exposure to fine particulate matter during his service in Afghanistan. The opinion should also address whether it was caused by or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea, which is related to asbestos exposure in service. The case will be returned for a new opinion that considers all relevant evidence and addresses the relationship between the Veteran's sleep apnea and his service-connected pulmonary nodules.

The Board has remanded several issues for additional evidence, including the claims of service connection for eye disability, dizziness, right knee and left knee disabilities, and a right foot and left foot disabilities. The claim for an earlier effective date is dismissed due to finality.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, as secondary to military sexual trauma (MST) is granted. The issue of service connection for sleep apnea, to include as secondary to the service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder, is remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examinations and the need for a new medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is related to his military service or any other condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of notification for a VA examination and because the Veteran did not attend the scheduled examination. The claim will be reconsidered after these issues are addressed.

The Veteran's chronic bronchitis is related to in-service asbestos exposure and service connection for this condition is granted. The Board finds the evidence insufficient to determine if OSA is secondary to service-connected coronary artery disease, hypertension, or due to in-service exposures. Service connection for pulmonary nodules is remanded as exposure to radiological contamination is conceded.

The Board has granted service connection for various disabilities, including bilateral foot and knee conditions and lumbosacral degenerative joint disease, all secondary to obesity caused by service-connected PTSD. The Veteran's hearing loss claim was denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a sleep disorder, including as secondary to his service-connected major depressive disorder. The VA examiner concluded that the Veteran's sleep apnea was not related to his military service or his service-connected condition.

The Veteran's combined service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for SMC at the housebound rate as he does not have a single disability rated at 100 percent disabling.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that there was no evidence linking his current condition to his military service or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a sleep disability is granted, but the claim for OSA is denied.