Sleep apnea decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate reasoning in the previous decision and the need for additional addendum opinions regarding the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea.

The Veteran's skin disorders, including seborrheic dermatitis, psoriasis, and rosacea, are being remanded for additional development to obtain VA medical records and addendum opinions.

The Veteran's sleep apnea, right foot disability, and left foot disability are granted service connection. The stomach disability is denied.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of her sleep apnea and bilateral upper extremity neurological disabilities. The case will be returned to the VA examiners for further evaluation.

The Board has determined that there was not substantial compliance with its previous remand directives and the appeal must be remanded again for addendum opinions on the etiology of the Veteran's sleep apnea and nonmelanoma skin cancer.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability evaluation, service connection for a neck condition, and service connection for migraine headaches are remanded due to the need for new VA examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation prior to March 21, 2011.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea began during his active service and is granted as a result.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea due to insufficient reasoning in the previous decision and the need for clarification from a private physician.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that it is causally related to the Veteran's in-service maxillary osteotomy and resulting scar tissue.,Service connection was also granted for a cardiac disability (including premature ventricular contractions, paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, and aortic insufficiency), with the Board concluding that these conditions are proximately due to the service-connected obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and GERD due to insufficient medical opinions regarding potential exposure to environmental hazards during his active-duty service in Southwest Asia.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right knee disorder and sleep apnea, as well as a separate rating for post-meniscectomy condition. The issues of entitlement to increased ratings for right knee disorder are denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to coronary artery disease due to inadequate medical opinions and missing records.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a medical opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed obstructive sleep apnea, specifically whether it is related to his service-connected bronchial asthma and PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's service-connected disabilities (PTSD and lumbar spine disability) caused or aggravated his obesity, which then led to his obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the relationship between his current condition and his in-service symptoms, as well as potential aggravation by his service-connected disabilities. Additional evidence is needed from VA treatment records and any relevant non-VA care providers.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for Obstructive Sleep Apnea and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to insufficient rationale in the previous opinions, obesity as a potential intermediate step between service-connected disabilities, and need for additional development.

The Board denied service connection for lumbosacral strain, lumbosacral degenerative disc disease, and intervertebral disc syndrome with lumbar radiculopathy. The Veteran's current back issues are attributed to an on-the-job injury in 2020.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that it is not related to his service or any service-connected disability.

The Board has determined that the October 2021 VA examination opinions are inadequate and remands the case for further development, including obtaining an addendum opinion from an appropriate physician to address the nature and etiology of the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea.