Sleep apnea decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's PTSD, migraine headaches, TDIU claim, Dependents' Educational Assistance eligibility, and special monthly compensation based on housebound status. The claims are being remanded due to a lack of updated examinations for PTSD and migraines, as well as an incomplete VA opinion regarding service connection for obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board has denied service connection for sleep apnea as it is not secondary to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for attention deficit disorder is denied as the evidence does not support a finding that it was incurred during service.,Service connection is granted for an acquired psychiatric disorder, unspecified anxiety disorder and alcohol use disorder. The evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether these conditions manifested during service.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for fibromyalgia is remanded due to the lack of a comprehensive VA examination addressing all pertinent evidence.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea is remanded due to the lack of a comprehensive VA examination addressing all pertinent evidence.

The Veteran's tinnitus was incurred during his active service.,The Veteran's bilateral hypertensive retinopathy is caused by his service-connected hypertension.

The Board has remanded the claim due to inadequate reasons and bases, specifically addressing the Veteran's lay contentions about his back pain during service.

The Board denied service connection for Obstructive Sleep Apnea, finding no evidence of a causal relationship to active service and rejecting both direct and secondary service connection theories.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for pulmonary tuberculosis was denied, and the claim for service connection for sleep apnea was remanded due to an inadequate VA examination.

The Board has remanded the claim of entitlement to a TDIU on a schedular basis from November 20, 2020 due to new evidence received after the previous SSOC.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a lack of current disability manifested by dizziness and insufficient evidence linking his acquired psychiatric disorder and sleep disabilities to service. The cases are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for mixed sleep apnea was granted, and he is now entitled to service connection for this condition. His claims for left ankle disorder, right ankle disorder, and left knee disorder were denied as there is no evidence of a current disability related to these conditions.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's claim for service connection for postgastrectomy syndrome as there was no case or controversy left to decide after granting service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The claims of entitlement to a compensable evaluation for status post pulmonary contusion with residual posttraumatic arterial-venous malformation (AVM) and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities are remanded.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis is not related to his military service and does not meet the criteria for secondary service connection due to his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's appeals for depression, feet problems (gout), and gastroesophageal reflux disease were dismissed. The Veteran's claim of service connection for a bilateral knee disability was reopened due to new evidence submitted since the August 1992 rating decision. Service connection is granted for tinnitus, gastroesophageal reflux disease, irritable bowel syndrome, chronic fatigue syndrome, sleep disturbances, and fibromyalgia (claimed as weakened stability in upper and lower extremities and painful joints). The Veteran's claim of service connection for type II diabetes mellitus was remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's OSA is related to his service or secondary to his service-connected septum rhinoplasty. The AOJ needs to obtain additional medical comments addressing these issues.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding service connection for obstructive sleep apnea. The Veteran's claim is being returned for further development and consideration.

The Board has granted service connection for sarcoidosis, neurosarcoidosis, and COPD as secondary to the Veteran's now service-connected sarcoidosis.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient consideration of the Veteran's lay statements and testimony regarding his sleep apnea, as well as the prior VA examinations. The claim will be reviewed again with a new opinion from a sleep specialist.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions regarding whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is secondary to his service-connected COPD and/or due to asbestos exposure. The VA examiner must provide an opinion on causation and aggravation of the condition.

The Board has granted service connection for type II diabetes mellitus and sleep apnea, finding that the conditions are related to the Veteran's active duty service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for laryngeal stenosis was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability. The claim for sleep apnea was remanded due to the lack of an examination.