Sleep apnea decisions — 2022

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding service connection for OSA, its relationship to PTSD and left shoulder instability. The Veteran's claims will be reviewed with a VA examiner.

The Board has remanded the cases of hypothyroidism and headaches associated with Rosai-Dorfman Disease due to procedural issues, and the Veteran is requested to provide VA Form 21-4142 for any private treatment records from an endocrinologist. The Veteran needs to be scheduled for a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected hypothyroidism and headaches.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining an updated VA and/or private treatment records, and a medical opinion from a sleep specialist regarding whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is related to active service or caused by or aggravated by military service.

The Board has granted service connection for HTN, OSA, and DM as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected back disability. The issues of entitlement to service connection for ED, COPD, and GERD are remanded due to a lack of VA examinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected cervical strain, anxiety, or posttraumatic headaches due to a lack of evidence supporting the contention that these conditions caused or aggravated his obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, including seronegative arthritis. The Veteran is advised that failure to attend the requested examination may result in an adverse determination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and tremors, as secondary to his service-connected TMJ and TBI, respectively. The VA is instructed to obtain new medical opinions regarding these claims.

The Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD is denied. The Board finds the evidence does not support an evaluation in excess of 70 percent due to the Veteran's symptoms being more commensurate with his current 70 percent rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is more likely than not related to his active-duty service, and thus grants service connection for OSA.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining private medical records and providing an etiology opinion.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's low back disability and his military service. The remaining issues are also being remanded as they are inextricably intertwined with the low back issue.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied, and his claim of service connection for sleep apnea is remanded due to incomplete examination.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development regarding his claims of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, compensable ratings for left otitis media with mastoidectomy and left tympanoplasty, increased rating for bilateral hearing loss, and TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for gum disease and a dental condition (claimed as missing teeth) has been denied due to lack of diagnosed conditions.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, related to his service-connected depression and bronchitis, is remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his adjustment disorder with depressed mood, lumbosacral spondylosis, and various knee and foot conditions, render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted the TDIU claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is related to his service-connected allergic rhinitis, and thus grants service connection for this condition as secondary to his service-connected condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate reasons and bases for denial in the April 2021 decision. The Veteran's sleep apnea is being remanded for further examination and opinion regarding its onset, causation by medications, aggravation of service-connected conditions, and relationship to his psychiatric disorder or knee condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of an opinion linking the Veteran's sleep apnea to his service-connected disabilities. The Veteran is asked to provide information and authorization for any relevant treatment records.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and a bilateral hand disability due to new evidence received after the most recent Supplemental Statement of the Case. The decision also requires an additional addendum opinion regarding the right hand pain.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for PTSD was dismissed. The Board granted a 30 percent disability rating for service-connected epigastric pain and found that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is secondary to his service-connected PTSD.