Sleep apnea decisions — 2022

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to obtain or maintain a substantially gainful course of employment, and thus grants his claim for TDIU.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is granted service connection. The gastrointestinal disorder and chronic fatigue syndrome are denied as not related to his service-connected fibromyalgia.

The Board denied service connection for a skin disability, including rosacea, as the evidence did not support a finding that it was incurred or aggravated by service, particularly due to Agent Orange exposure.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for chondrosarcoma, finding that there is no current diagnosis of this condition.

The Board denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis did not begin during active service or is otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbosacral spine disorder has been reopened, and the appeal is granted to that extent. The Board finds new and material evidence has been submitted since the last denial in March 1992. However, the issue of remanding the case for further development remains pending due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding service connection and a VA examination to determine the current severity of his right ankle strain.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is caused or aggravated by service or a service-connected disability, particularly PTSD. Additional development and an updated VA examination are required.

The Veteran's service-connected obstructive sleep apnea is granted, with the benefit of doubt given to his condition being related to his service-connected coronary artery disease and PTSD.,Service connection for coronary artery disease is granted based on presumed exposure to herbicide agents during service in Vietnam. The effective date is set at January 2, 2013.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine if he is entitled to compensation for his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's sleep apnea with asthma is rated at 100 percent prior to June 25, 2020. He also qualifies for special monthly compensation based on housebound status.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is at least as likely as not caused by his service-connected diabetes mellitus due to obesity, and thus grants service connection for OSA on a secondary basis.

The Board denied service connection for Obstructive Sleep Apnea and a rating in excess of 30 percent for Meniere's syndrome prior to February 22, 2020.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of his claimed conditions. The attention deficit hyperactivity disorder claim is also remanded for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's chest pain and sleep apnea are being remanded for further development to determine if they are related to service, including herbicide exposure.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for TDIU prior to June 7, 2021 and dismissed the appeal from that date forward due to a concurrent grant of SMC based on housebound criteria. The Board found that the Veteran was not unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Insomnia are service-connected, with the decision favoring the Veteran.

The Veteran's low back disability is rated at 20 percent from September 17, 2012 and increased to 40 percent from April 14, 2020. The Board also granted a TDIU based on the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development regarding his service connection claims for left shoulder and left knee disabilities, as well as a rating claim for his lumbosacral spine disability.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine if the Veteran's right ankle disability and obstructive sleep apnea disability are related to his military service. The claims will be remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric condition has prevented him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment throughout the period on appeal, warranting a TDIU. Additionally, he is entitled to SMC based on housebound status due to his additional service-connected disabilities.