Sleep apnea decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examination and development is needed to determine if the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is caused or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities, including back, knee, sciatic, gastrointestinal reflux disorder, and anxiety disorder.

The Board has remanded the cases of obstructive sleep apnea and sinusitis due to insufficient examination opinions considering the Veteran's service treatment records, including his October 1970 treatment for insomnia.

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

The Board has not completed the remand directives for an opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's sleep disorder, including obstructive sleep apnea or periodic limb movement during sleep. The case is being returned to the RO for further development.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease with intervertebral disc syndrome was dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal.,The Board has remanded cases involving service connection for sleep apnea syndrome, left hand carpal tunnel syndrome, right hand carpal tunnel syndrome, and erectile dysfunction.

The Veteran's claim for increased PTSD rating is granted, and service connection for hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, and PTSD are all granted. The Veteran's sleep apnea as secondary to PTSD, ataxia, peripheral neuropathy, and restless leg syndrome are also granted. Service connection for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities is granted.

The Veteran's OSA is found to be aggravated by his service-connected PTSD, and thus service connection for OSA is granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting information regarding the Veteran's availability for a VA examination, and further development is needed.

The Board has determined that the issue of service connection for sleep apnea requires additional medical opinion and remand due to a lack of proper consideration in the previous decision.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for obstructive sleep apnea due to service-connected disabilities, as there was not substantial compliance with the July 2022 remand directives. Further development is needed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea due to inadequate etiology opinions and concerns raised in a Joint Motion for Remand (JMR). The JMR directed the Board to obtain a new VA etiology opinion addressing exposure to burn pits while stationed in Iraq, as well as the Veteran's wife's testimony about his symptoms. The Board also found that a Persian Gulf War examination is needed.

The Veteran's appeal includes a request for an increased rating for his lumbosacral sprain and a claim for service connection for a respiratory disability. The Board has remanded both issues due to non-compliance with previous instructions.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine if the Veteran's sleep apnea is related to his service-connected PTSD and whether obesity, which may be an intermediate step, plays a role in this relationship.

The Board dismissed the appeal for service connection of obstructive sleep apnea due to the appellant's withdrawal of the appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea has been dismissed due to his death during the appeal process.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected residuals of a nose fracture, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to his service-connected condition.

The Board has remanded several service connection claims, including for sleep apnea, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including memory loss and MDD), bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, prostate cancer, erectile dysfunction, degenerative arthritis of the spine, right leg arthritis, and left leg arthritis. The Veteran's STRs do not contain any complaints or treatments related to these conditions.

The Board has found pre-decisional duty to assist errors and the claim must be remanded for a new VA examination to obtain information necessary to properly adjudicate the service connection claim.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability is granted. The claims of service connection for right knee, bilateral hips, and bilateral shoulders disorders are remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for left major index finger paresthesia was withdrawn prior to the Board's decision.,Service connection is granted for heart disability, migraine headaches, and obstructive sleep apnea.