Sleep apnea decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the claims for higher ratings and effective dates due to a need for additional examinations and information.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection and rating increases was dismissed due to his death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea is remanded due to the need for a VA examination and opinion regarding the nature and etiology of his sleep apnea, as well as whether it is related to his service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's current lumbosacral spine disability. The examiner must consider specific service treatment records, lay statements, and how the reported symptoms align with known development of the condition.

The Board has granted service connection for OSA and gout as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, specifically hypertension and diabetic nephropathy.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea, its relationship to service-connected disabilities and obesity, and whether his service-connected conditions caused or aggravated his obesity. The case will be returned for further examination and opinion.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient development and need for a more detailed opinion regarding the Veteran's service connection claim, specifically addressing whether Atenolol caused or aggravated obesity leading to sleep apnea.

The Veteran's sleep disorder, including obstructive sleep apnea and insomnia, is remanded for further examination to determine its relationship to his active service or any service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's psychiatric disorder resulted in occupational and social impairment, but not total impairment. A rating in excess of 30 percent for the psychiatric disorder prior to March 16, 2022 and in excess of 70 percent from that date onwards is denied.,Service connection for OSA is granted as it was caused by obesity resulting from a service-connected psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for PTSD and an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss have been dismissed. The Board has remanded the remaining issues of service connection for hypertension, sleep apnea, right ankle disability, left ankle disability, right foot disability (other than right lower extremity neuropathy), left foot disability (other than left lower extremity neuropathy), and migraine headaches.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's symptoms during active duty and post-service medical records support a link between his current condition and military service.

The Veteran's rating for lumbosacral disability was reduced from 40% to 20%, effective January 1, 2019. The appeal is granted in full as the reduction was not proper and the 40% rating is restored.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that his continuous sleep impairment since service separation resulted in a diagnosis of this condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and a respiratory disorder including chronic sinusitis and allergic rhinitis due to insufficient evidence or incomplete examinations. The Veteran is entitled to further examination and opinion regarding his service connection claims.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and sleep apnea due to a lack of VA examination, incomplete development of stressor allegations, and need for further medical opinions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, obstructive sleep apnea, a right knee disability, and headaches should be remanded due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions. The VA must provide an adequate examination and opinion addressing the relationship between the Veteran's service-connected disabilities and his claimed conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea, finding that it had its onset and is related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of sleep apnea has been dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain and left hip strain have been remanded for further evaluation due to increased functional impairment since the last VA examination in December 2015.