Sleep apnea decisions — 2022

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection of sleep apnea due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran, including his service treatment records and articles about exposure to smoke and mold. A VA examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's current sleep apnea is related to exposures during service.

The Veteran's OSA is currently service connected, but the Board has not received an opinion on whether it was caused or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD. The case is being remanded to obtain this information.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient consideration of a statement from a fellow servicemember who recalled that the Veteran had breathing issues during service, and an addendum medical opinion is needed.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining an addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea and ensuring compliance with previous remand directives.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea began during his service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's sleep apnea claim requires further examination and opinion due to potential exposure to fine particulate matter during service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a specific opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea, including whether it is related to service or caused by his service-connected lumbar strain.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as presumed incurred in service due to noise exposure. Sleep apnea and PTSD are denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran had symptoms of sleep apnea during service and since separation, and therefore grants service connection for obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) began during his active service and is related to his military service, granting service connection for OSA.

The Board has remanded the claims for hypertension, bilateral leg disorder, and sleep apnea due to incomplete records from the Veteran's active duty service. The claims will be reviewed again with additional development.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an error in not addressing a possible hearing request and not adequately considering the Veteran's lay reports of sleep symptoms during service. A new VA examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea had its clinical onset during his active service or is otherwise related to it.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbosacral strain and nasal fracture are being remanded due to inadequate examinations. The cases will be returned for further evaluation.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's active duty service is at least as likely as not related to his current condition.,Service connection was denied for fatty liver disease due to a lack of evidence showing a current disability. The claim for hearing loss remains pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that it did not manifest during active service and is not otherwise related to service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to his bilateral TMJ, finding that there is no medical evidence linking the two conditions.

The Board has found that further remand is necessary due to insufficient opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea and its relationship to service-connected PTSD. The effective date for TDIU remains in dispute as it is inextricably intertwined with the issue of service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions regarding his neck disability, muscle spasms of the calves, sleep apnea, and chronic pain. The VA will obtain any outstanding records and schedule the Veteran for a comprehensive examination to determine if these conditions are related to his military service or other factors.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to a need for an examination addressing whether the Veteran's service-connected depressive disorder contributed to his obesity, which in turn caused or aggravated his OSA, lumbar spine disorder, left thigh meralgia paresthetica, and left knee disorder.