Sleep apnea decisions — 2022

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for lumbosacral strain was granted, with a 40% rating effective August 16, 2019. The previous ratings of 20% from October 22, 2016 to August 16, 2019 and 10% prior to October 22, 2016 were denied.

The Veteran's OSA is granted secondary to his service-connected PTSD and psychiatric medications, as the evidence shows that his obesity, caused or aggravated by his PTSD and medications, likely led to his sleep apnea.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbosacral strain and denied service connection for sinusitis. The Veteran's lumbosacral strain is found to have begun during active duty, while her sinusitis is not related to any in-service event or disease.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea and emphysema with lung bullae disabilities have been assigned a single disability rating of 50 percent. The Board finds the matter must be remanded for development prior to adjudication, to clarify some medical evidence and to ensure there is a more complete record upon which to adjudicate the claim.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of degenerative arthritis of the right knee and lumbosacral strain as secondary to service-connected conditions, due to the effective dates of the granted benefits.

The Board has decided to remand several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including hearing loss, depression/anxiety (claimed as PTSD), lower back condition, headaches/migraines, and sleep apnea. The reasons for remanding these cases include needing a new VA examination due to the passage of time since the last examination, verifying stressor events in service, and considering whether the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea had its onset during his active duty service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the claim for a new VA opinion to determine if the Veteran's sleep apnea is proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD, and whether it was caused by an in-service injury. The decision will be reconsidered after this additional development.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for increased disability ratings for chronic bronchitis and service connection for CFS and Hodgkin's Disease. The Veteran was granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea.

The Veteran's esophageal disability is remanded for further examination and review of medical records.

The Board has remanded the cases due to the Veteran's failure to report for VA examinations and requests a rescheduling. Additionally, all outstanding VA treatment records need to be associated with the claims file.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that the symptoms first manifested during active service and have continued since then.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and sleep apnea secondary to his service-connected PTSD are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for his right shoulder disability is dismissed.,The claim to reopen the previously denied prostate cancer status post TURP service connection is denied.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability is denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea is remanded.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for sleep apnea, as secondary to service-connected cephalgia due to a need for additional development and medical opinions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is not related to his active-duty service and denied the claim for service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for L3-L4 paracentral/foraminal annular tear, degenerative disc disease, and lumbosacral strain as these conditions were not caused or aggravated by his active duty service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the Board has determined that additional development is needed before a decision can be made on these claims.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unemployable, as he was able to maintain full-time employment in a substantially gainful occupation until August 14, 2018.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea had its onset during service, and thus grants the claim for service connection.