Sleep apnea decisions — 2022

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluations, as some issues have not been fully addressed by the VA examiners.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected PTSD caused or aggravated his obesity, which in turn led to his sleep apnea. The VA examiner dismissed the Veteran's argument without explanation.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding service connection for OSA. The Veteran's lay statements and studies submitted by him will be considered in the new VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to deficiencies in the opinions provided regarding the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea, eating disorder, and obesity. The RO is instructed to obtain additional opinions addressing these issues.

The Veteran's migraine headaches, obstructive sleep apnea, low back disability, left lower extremity sciatica, and right lower extremity sciatica are all found to be service-connected. The traumatic brain injury residuals claim is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for OSA, bilateral hearing loss, and hypertension due to insufficient evidence addressing the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected PTSD caused or aggravated his obstructive sleep apnea, and thus granted service connection for OSA as secondary to PTSD.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a disability (other than chronic fatigue syndrome) that manifested by a sleep disorder, to include sleep apnea and symptomatology that could be defined as hypersomnia or somnolence. The decision is based on the Veteran's in-service episodes of sleep disorder and his current symptoms, which are linked to obesity, major depressive disorder, and chronic fatigue syndrome.

The Veteran's claim for a 10 percent rating for tardive dyskinesia is granted, and she is awarded a TDIU from January 31, 2014 to November 25, 2015.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea is reopened, but the case is remanded to obtain a VA examination and determine if his current diagnosis of sleep apnea is related to his military service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that the evidence is in approximate balance regarding whether his OSA began during active duty. The decision also addresses a secondary service connection theory but finds it moot due to granting of direct service connection.

The Veteran's mood disorder and obstructive sleep apnea have been granted service connection, and he has also been awarded TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing his appeals. The Board has also remanded several issues for further examination.

The Veteran's claims for secondary service connection to his bilateral hearing loss are remanded due to the complexity and need for additional development.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for sleep apnea on a secondary basis to his service-connected disabilities, including back and fibromyalgia. The decision is based on evidence showing that the Veteran's weight gain due to these conditions contributed to his sleep apnea.

The Board has granted an initial rating of 60 percent for ischemic heart disease, but denied a higher rating. The claim for service connection for sleep apnea is remanded due to inadequate medical opinion.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetes is found to be the proximate cause of his obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and therefore, OSA has been granted as secondary to diabetes.

The Veteran's sleep apnea was found to have begun during active service and is therefore granted for service connection.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is found to be related to his service, and he is granted service connection for this condition.,Service connection is denied for bilateral hearing loss as the evidence does not support a compensable disability rating.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient consideration of the Veteran's service records and recent hearing testimony regarding his sleep apnea.