Sleep apnea decisions — 2022

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence supporting a connection between the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea and service-connected PTSD. The Veteran is invited to submit an opinion from a competent clinician applying the new article on potential mechanism.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for TDIU benefits prior to December 9, 2016, finding that his service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for entitlement to an initial compensable evaluation for atypical chest pain and entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea. The remaining issues of entitlement to increased ratings for left ankle disability, painful scar of the left lateral malleolus, linear scar of the left lower extremity, and lumbar spine disability as well as service connection for headaches are remanded for further development.

The Board denied service connection for Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Headache Disorder, finding that the evidence did not support a causal relationship between these conditions and service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's obesity and its relation to his PTSD, which may have played a role in causing or aggravating his obstructive sleep apnea.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased disability rating for obstructive sleep apnea and bilateral plantar fasciitis (claimed as bilateral pes planus) has been dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing his appeals.

The Veteran's OSA and asthma disabilities are being granted service connection, but the issues of service connection for insomnia disability remain pending due to a remand.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and TDIU due to inadequate opinions in the previous remand. The Veteran is asked to provide a new opinion regarding whether his sleep apnea is at least as likely as not caused or aggravated by any of his service-connected disabilities, including sinusitis.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not meet the criteria for specially adapted housing or financial assistance for purchasing an automobile and adaptive equipment. The Board finds that his disabilities, while significant, do not qualify him for these benefits based on the specific requirements outlined in VA regulations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for glaucoma, secondary to diabetes mellitus, was reopened and granted. Service connection is also granted for tinnitus.,Service connection for sleep apnea and traumatic brain injury remains pending as the claims are remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for obstructive sleep apnea and bilateral foot condition due to potential service connection issues, including a need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's sleep apnea claim, specifically his service connection for OSA.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea, specifically whether it is related to service or a service-connected condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability is not service-connected due to lack of evidence showing a link between his current condition and his military service.,For the residuals of coccyx injury, the Board found insufficient evidence linking the Veteran's current pain to his in-service tailbone injury. The case was remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of various conditions, including hyperlipidemia and morbid obesity disorder as a stand-alone condition, have been denied. The Board has remanded the claims for obstructive sleep apnea, gout, benign prostate hypertrophy (BPH), right shoulder disfiguring growth, right lower extremity skin disorder, and left lower extremity skin disorder.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the onset and etiology of the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea, including whether it is related to service-connected PTSD or exposure to burn pits during his deployment in Iraq.

The Veteran's service connection claim for sleep apnea is granted. The claims for bilateral knee disabilities are remanded due to insufficient evidence on the direct service connection basis.

The Board has remanded the service connection claims for migraine headaches, stroke residuals, back disorder, left knee disorder, sleep apnea, GERD, and heart disorder due to inadequate opinions in previous VA examinations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for OSA was received on January 13, 2016. The effective date of the grant of service connection is set at that date.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and denied an evaluation in excess of 50 percent for other specified trauma disorder.