Sleep apnea decisions — 2022

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, degenerative arthritis of the lumbosacral spine, tinnitus associated with TBI, and headaches related to TBI, are not considered sufficient to render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the claims of entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea and pulmonary hypertension, with an emphasis on obtaining a VA opinion addressing the nature and etiology of the Veteran's sleep apnea.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings for various foot conditions have been denied due to lack of evidence supporting the onset or relationship of these conditions to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is related to his service-connected right shoulder disability or if it was caused by exposure during service. The Veteran will be scheduled for a VA examination to address these issues.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's lumbosacral strain, finding that it is related to his service-connected right and left knee disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for sleep apnea, finding that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen the claim. The decision also noted that the Veteran did not report any relevant medical records or studies since the last denial.

The Board denied service connection for a psychiatric disability, including PTSD, and sleep apnea. The Veteran's death was not due to willful misconduct.,Service connection for the Veteran’s cause of death is remanded.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to service-connected disability due to a lack of substantial compliance with the March 2022 remand. The Veteran's attorney submitted a medical article explaining that obesity is one of the main components contributing to sleep apnea, and additional VA CAPRI records were received in October 2022.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, but the issue of service connection for an ear condition is remanded due to lack of substantial compliance with previous remand directives.

The Board has dismissed the claims for service connection for kidney disorder, OSA, and CFS or other symptoms as an undiagnosed illness or MUCMI due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the schedular requirements for a TDIU prior to August 16, 2019. The case is being remanded for referral to the Director of Compensation Service for extraschedular consideration.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that it is caused by his service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that it was not caused or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD and that there is no evidence of its onset during active duty.

The Veteran's claim for a 30 percent rating for PTSD prior to December 23, 2019 is granted. The claim for an increased rating for PTSD after December 23, 2019 is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea disability had onset in service or is otherwise related to his active duty, including environmental exposure. The case will be returned for further development.

The Veteran's low back disability, including a lumbosacral strain and levoscoliosis of the lumbar spine, is granted as service-connected. The issue of an increased rating for her left hip disability remains pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea is a direct result of his service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's sleep apnea may be related to service, and thus remands for a new medical opinion.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea but denied service connection for right foot disorder and left foot disorder, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not causally related to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea and a nasal disorder, finding that the Veteran's conditions were not causally related to his military service or aggravated by pre-existing conditions.