Sleep apnea decisions — 2022

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty-to-assist error and insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's diagnosed sleep apnea and his service.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is remanded for further examination and medical opinion to determine if it began during service, was caused or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities, and whether obesity contributed to the development of the condition.

The Veteran's service connection claim for obstructive sleep apnea is remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding service connection for a sleep disorder other than obstructive sleep apnea, which is claimed as secondary to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims for lumbosacral strain, left knee degenerative arthritis, and hypertension due to further development being required. The Veteran's TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability, lumbar spine disability, and respiratory disability (other than OSA) are being remanded for further development.,Specifically, the Board finds that additional information is needed to properly evaluate these claims.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for headaches, a neck disability (previously claimed as upper back disability), and other conditions. The claims are remanded for further development including VA examinations.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is granted as related to service. The bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome and hearing loss disability are denied.,The Board finds that remands are warranted for the claims of vertigo, Meniere's disease, respiratory disabilities, and TDIU due to inextricability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current obstructive sleep apnea did not manifest during active service and is not otherwise causally or etiologically related to his military service. The Board also found no evidence linking the Veteran's current diagnosis of sleep apnea to his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 50 percent, effective May 25, 2018. The Board denied a higher rating as the evidence did not show that his hearing loss was more severe than what was reflected by his previously assigned evaluations.,The Veteran's lumbosacral spine degenerative disc disease is currently rated at 20 percent, effective May 25, 2018. The Board denied a higher rating as the evidence did not show that his disability manifested to warrant a higher rating prior to the VA examination.

The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for sleep apnea due to incomplete development and need for a medical opinion addressing the relationship between the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II, and his sleep apnea.

The Board has vacated its decision denying service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to bilateral knee disabilities and remanded the issue.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include major depressive disorder and PTSD, as well as sleep apnea. The Veteran's PTSD is related to his in-service involvement with recovering body parts from a commercial airline crash, while his depression is linked to his service-connected right knee disability.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is related to service.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, a cardiac disability, and peripheral artery disease due to their secondary nature to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

Service connection for bladder disability, sleep apnea, and hypertension is granted. Service connection for bilateral hand disability is also granted.,The Veteran's current conditions are presumed due to herbicide exposure during service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a sleep disorder, previously characterized as sleep apnea, is being remanded due to the addition of new evidence that tends to prove or disprove a matter at issue in regard to such claim.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected.,The Veteran's lumbar sprain with degenerative disc disease prior to June 24, 2019, and in excess of 20 percent thereafter remains remanded for additional development.,The Veteran's sleep apnea is remanded for addendum opinions regarding its etiology.,The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II is remanded for addendum opinions regarding its etiology.,The Veteran's neuropathy of the left upper extremity, right upper extremity, and right lower extremity are remanded for addendum opinions regarding their etiology.,The Veteran's neuropathy of the left lower extremity is remanded for addendum opinions regarding its etiology.

The Veteran's TDIU and DEA eligibility are denied as the evidence does not show that he was unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to May 27, 2011.,The Board found no entitlement to TDIU prior to May 27, 2011, due to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities and his ability to engage in activities such as painting and working on cars.

The Veteran's sleep disturbed breathing, including obstructive sleep apnea, is considered to be caused by their service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder.