Sleep apnea decisions — 2022

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received for the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The claims are being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's service connection claim for degenerative arthritis of the lower back is granted. The appeal for obstructive sleep apnea remains pending and requires further remand.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbosacral strain and left ear hearing loss was denied. The Veteran's PTSD is granted with an initial rating of 50 percent, but the issue of nonservice-connected pension benefits is dismissed as moot.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a sleep disorder, including obstructive sleep apnea, has been reopened and is being remanded.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee disability and right knee disability have also been reopened and are being remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for liver, autoimmune, pancytopenia, headache, sleep apnea, and heart conditions due to insufficient medical evidence of record.

The Veteran's service connection claims for hypertension, tinnitus, and PTSD have been granted. The issues of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, a heart condition, bilateral hearing loss, and neurological disability of the right lower extremity are remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's sleep disorders, specifically insomnia and unspecified sleep disorder. The examiner is requested to provide an opinion on whether these conditions are caused or aggravated by her service-connected tinnitus and bilateral knee disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that there was no evidence to support a direct link between his active service and the condition.

The Veteran's combined evaluation for service-connected disabilities prior to November 5, 2018 was 90 percent. The appeal for a higher rating is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, obstructive sleep apnea, and painful joints are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining addendum opinions regarding her back disability and acquired psychiatric disorders.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed conditions and their relationship to his military service, including exposure to herbicides. The Veteran contends that he had a layover in the Republic of Vietnam (RVN) while enroute to his assignment, but there is no concrete evidence confirming this claim.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for OSA. The case is now remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding whether PTSD and/or PTSD medications caused or aggravated obesity, which in turn caused OSA.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for low back disability, headaches, and obstructive sleep apnea have been granted. The Board found that the evidence established a link between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including hypertension, knee conditions, hearing loss, mental health disorders, COPD and/or asthma, and sleep apnea. The remand requires obtaining additional medical records, verifying stressors, confirming exposure to asbestos, scheduling examinations for each condition, and determining the etiology of any diagnosed respiratory disorder and sleep disorder.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for TBI, bilateral hearing loss, cervical spine disability, petite mal seizures, and obstructive sleep apnea due to insufficient development or examination.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is granted as secondary to service-connected PTSD.,The Veteran's hypertension is granted due to presumed herbicide exposure during service.,The Veteran's coronary artery disease (ischemic heart disease) is granted an initial disability evaluation of 60 percent, effective April 25, 2017.,The Veteran's atrial fibrillation with implanted cardiac pacemaker associated with coronary artery disease is granted an initial disability evaluation of 30 percent, effective April 25, 2018.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for COPD, mental health condition, right ankle disability, left knee disability, headaches, and sleep apnea is denied. Service connection is granted for hypertension due to herbicide agent exposure.

The Veteran's appeal to reopen his claim for service connection for sleep apnea has been dismissed due to procedural defects and the Veteran's withdrawal of the appeal.

The Veteran's appeals for earlier effective dates, service connection, and increased ratings have been denied.,Service connection was granted for sleep apnea with hyperinflated lungs asthma, PTSD, GERD, and right shoulder strain on November 20, 2016.