Sleep apnea decisions — 2022

The Veteran's sleep apnea, left and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and PTSD are all granted service connection. The Veteran's supraventricular arrhythmia is denied as not related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for an upper respiratory disability and sleep apnea due to new evidence received since the last rating decision, including VA treatment records from his active duty service.

The Board has dismissed all issues of service connection as the Veteran requested withdrawal of the appeal prior to a decision being made.

The appeal for service connection of a breast disorder is dismissed. The claim for service connection of bilateral hearing loss has been reopened, but the issue remains remanded due to lack of evidence supporting the claim. Other issues remain remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, colonic polyps, hepatitis C, and hypertension are not resolved in his favor. The cases have been REMANDED to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's sleep disorder, including whether it is related to military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for skin rash, hypertension, sleep apnea, and heart disease (CAD/IHD/CHF/Hypertensive Heart Disease) for retroactive benefits due to secondary service-connected PTSD. The case is also remanded for an addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's claim for sleep apnea.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left knee patella tendonitis, heart disease (including cardiomyopathy), hypertension, and obstructive sleep apnea due to the Veteran's failure to report for a VA examination. The issues are inextricably intertwined with each other.

The Board has denied service connection for residuals of a head injury and remanded the claims for fatigue, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction due to lack of evidence supporting these conditions being related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for asthma and sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected sinusitis and gastritis.

The Board has granted service connection for Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) as the evidence is at least evenly balanced and resolves in favor of the Veteran, who reported sleep-related symptoms during service that were indicative of OSA.

The Veteran's appeal includes claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, hypertension, PTSD, seizure disorder, and obstructive sleep apnea. The Board has determined that these issues are remanded due to ambiguities in the character of discharge determination and insufficient medical opinions regarding secondary service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a TDIU as her combined disability rating is at least 70 percent, but she cannot secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to her PTSD and other service-connected conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient opinions regarding whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is related to service or a service-connected disability, and if so, whether it is secondary.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for COPD and OSA due to lack of VA examination, failure to report for examination, and need for additional medical opinions.

The Board dismissed the appeals regarding increased rating for coronary artery disease, service connection for prostate cancer, and service connection for obstructive sleep apnea due to the appellant's death.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for further medical examinations and evaluations.

The Veteran's nonservice-connected disabilities do not prevent her from following a substantially gainful occupation, and she is therefore denied entitlement to a nonservice-connected pension.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete development of evidence, particularly regarding a direct service connection opinion and possible secondary service connection for sleep apnea syndrome.

The Veteran's claim to reopen his previously denied claim of entitlement to service connection for a left knee disability is granted. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted, but service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including unspecified depressive disorder and PTSD) is denied.