Sleep apnea decisions — 2022

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is granted as secondary to his service-connected PTSD. For the period prior to March 24, 2022, he is granted a maximum schedular rating of 50 percent for migraine headaches.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary for further development of the Veteran's claims, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the relationship between his service-connected conditions and any newly diagnosed conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of entitlement to an initial rating higher than 50 percent for PTSD and service connection for sleep apnea due to incomplete development.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions and missing records. The Veteran's OSA is currently diagnosed, but there are questions about its relationship to service.

The Board has found that the remand instructions have not been completed as directed and another remand is necessary to obtain an adequate opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence and needs further development, including obtaining service treatment records related to a claimed sinus surgery in 1976 and providing an updated VA medical opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's sleep apnea.

The Board denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), finding that the evidence does not support a direct link to active service, and concluded that OSA was first diagnosed after separation from service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinion and additional development is required before service connection for obstructive sleep apnea can be adjudicated.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, finding that it is caused by his obesity, which in turn was caused by his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for obstructive sleep apnea, gout, left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, and right elbow disability as secondary to his service-connected fibromyalgia. The VA is required to obtain new medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea was aggravated by his service-connected major depressive disorder, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar and cervical spine disabilities due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has denied service connection for sleep apnea and a sleep disorder, finding that the evidence does not support a finding of in-service onset or relationship to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for service connection for skin disability and sleep apnea, finding that the February 2020 substantive appeal was untimely.

The Board has granted the claim for service connection of obstructive sleep apnea, finding that it is proximately due to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran was granted service connection for sleep apnea secondary to PTSD on February 18, 2015. However, he is denied an initial compensable rating for hypertension.,An earlier effective date of February 18, 2015, was granted for the grant of service connection for sleep apnea.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as secondary to his service-connected post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The decision is based on a private medical opinion that supports the causal relationship between PTSD and OSA.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, tinnitus, prostate cancer residuals, and PTSD have been granted. The effective date for the grant of service connection for prostate cancer residuals is set at January 3, 2018. A higher initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for prostate cancer residuals has been denied. The September 2015 rating decision assigning an initial 30 percent disability rating for PTSD was not clearly and unmistakably erroneous.

The Board has ordered a remand for the VA to provide an opinion on whether the Veteran's lung/respiratory disabilities are related to service, including presumed inservice herbicide exposure. The examiner should consider all relevant factors and provide a rationale for their opinions.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and adjudicative action due to inadequate compliance with previous remand directives. The Veteran's claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 are related to his August 1986 esophagogastrectomy.