Sleep apnea decisions — 2022

The Board has granted the claim for service connection of obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to service-connected allergic rhinitis.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim of service connection for sleep apnea, secondary to PTSD, has been granted. The effective date for the increased ratings of GERD and pes planus is denied.,The Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for the increased ratings of GERD and pes planus are denied as there is no factually ascertainable increase in disability within one year prior to March 22, 2017.,The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for his right scrotal cyst is remanded. The Veteran claims that the condition has worsened since his last VA examination in 2017.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea (secondary to PTSD) and erectile dysfunction (secondary to service-connected right scrotal cyst) are both remanded. The Veteran claims these conditions may be related to his service-connected disabilities.

The appeal for service connection for sleep apnea has been dismissed due to the appellant's death.

The Veteran's left inguinal herniorrhaphy scar is granted an initial 10 percent rating.,Other service connection claims are remanded for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, as secondary to his service-connected diabetes. The case is being sent back for a new VA examination or medical opinions that address whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is caused by or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, including as secondary to service-connected depressive disorder and/or left and right shoulder disabilities.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and remanded to obtain an addendum opinion regarding whether OSA is caused or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have not rendered him unemployable, and the claim for a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient development and consideration of all theories of service connection, including those related to exposure to ionizing radiation and sun exposure. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are most likely due to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's OSA may have developed during service or is related to his military service, and thus remands for a VA examination to determine this relationship.

The Board's decision on the issues of service connection for liver damage, migraine headaches, a psychiatric disability (including anxiety and depression), and sleep apnea is dismissed due to the Veteran's death. The appeal has been vacated.

The Veteran's TDIU claim before March 28, 2014 is remanded as there is a reasonable possibility that he was unemployable by reason of service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss does not warrant a compensable rating. The combined impact of his service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, OSA, IHD, and degenerative arthritis of the right knee, renders him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment prior to December 10, 2017.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate opinions regarding service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, which may be related to service-connected lumbar spine and depression. The Veteran needs a new examination to address these issues.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for sleep apnea was denied.,Service connection for tinnitus and asthma were both denied, while service connection for headaches was granted.

The Board has remanded the cases due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea and heart disability. The VA will need to provide new opinions addressing these issues.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lung disorder, sleep apnea, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to lack of evidence supporting a nexus between these conditions and his military service. The case is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a sleep disorder, including as secondary to his service-connected asthma, and the TDIU prior to March 16, 2015, is remanded due to mootness.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, obstructive sleep apnea, and peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities due to inadequate opinions in previous examinations. The Veteran's claims are also being remanded for a determination on total disability rating based on individual unemployability.