Sleep apnea decisions — 2022

The Board denied service connection for rosacea, nocturnal seizures, and muscle weakness as the evidence did not support a causal relationship to service or any exposure.

The Board denied service connection for COPD and OSA, finding that the Veteran's conditions are not related to his military service. The evidence did not support a presumption of Gulf War Illness or direct causation.

The Board has remanded several claims for additional development, including for addendum opinions and VA examinations to address the Veteran's service connection claims.

The Board has remanded the claims for an increased disability rating for right knee disorder, service connection for sleep apnea, and service connection for a heart disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for a chronic low back disability and remanded the issue of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, to include as secondary to service-connected allergic rhinitis and/or reactive airway disease.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment since March 23, 2015. The Board has granted a TDIU effective that date.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 20 percent for degenerative arthritis of the lumbosacral spine and for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability prior to May 28, 2020 due to inadequate examination findings. The Veteran will need another VA examination to address these issues.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the relationship between obstructive sleep apnea and service, as well as potential aggravation by ankylosing spondylitis.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding her conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, left knee condition, right knee condition, and diabetes mellitus, type II due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the onset of these conditions during active service.

The Board has denied service connection for Lewy body disease and remanded the issue of whether obstructive sleep apnea was aggravated by a service-connected psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's sleep apnea was found to have begun during active service and continued post-service, granting service connection for the condition.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's depression and back problems contributed to his obesity, which in turn caused or aggravated his sleep apnea. The decision is based on secondary service connection.

The Veteran's claims for hypertension, vertigo, and obstructive sleep apnea have been reopened due to the submission of new evidence. The appeal is granted on these issues.,The Board has determined that a VA examination is necessary to determine the nature, onset, and etiology of the Veteran's hypertension, vertigo, and obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board has dismissed the issue of service connection for tinnitus and has remanded the issue of whether new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen a previously denied claim for bilateral retinitis pigmentosa.

The Veteran withdrew the appeals for increased ratings for sinusitis and IBS.,The Board has remanded the issue of reopening service connection for sleep apnea due to new evidence.

The Veteran's acquired mental disorder (PTSD) is granted service connection, while his sleep apnea remains denied.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as his claim for a higher disability rating for residuals of a shell fragment wound to the left buttocks, muscle group XVII, and chronic lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease remains at 40 percent. The effective date for the grant of a 20 percent disability rating for service-connected chronic lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease is dismissed.

The Board has remanded the case due to a failure to comply with duty to assist, specifically regarding an adequate medical opinion for service connection of sleep apnea.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate opinions regarding causation of sleep apnea by service-connected COPD/chronic bronchitis. The Veteran's obstructive and central sleep apneas need further examination.