Sleep apnea decisions — 2022

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that his current condition began during active service and is related to an in-service event (snoring). The Board also found that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is less likely caused by or aggravated by his service-connected status-postnasal septoplasty.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is related to service, specifically military service in Southwest Asia during the Persian Gulf War and exposure to environmental hazards.

The Veteran's service connection claims for hypertension, erectile dysfunction, right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, high cholesterol, and obstructive sleep apnea have been granted. Effective dates of December 18, 2017, but not earlier, have also been established for these conditions.

The Veteran's ED and sleep apnea have been granted service connection as secondary to his PTSD.,However, the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability has not met VA criteria for a current disability.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary for the Veteran's right wrist disability and obstructive sleep apnea claims due to inadequate VA examinations. The Veteran needs new evaluations to determine if his conditions are related to his service-connected amputation of his right index finger.

The Veteran's TBI residuals were rated at level 2 from August 28, 2015 to November 15, 2020.,From January 20, 2016 to November 15, 2020, the Veteran's OSA required a CPAP machine.

The Board has remanded the case due to errors in obtaining service personnel records and inadequate VA opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's sleep apnea.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for sleep apnea, finding that it had its onset in service and is related to his military service.

The Veteran's fourth finger scar is granted a rating of 10 percent. Service connection for PTSD and OSA are both granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and opinion regarding service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The Veteran's OSA is being evaluated again as it may be related to her active service or her service-connected cervical spine disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and vision impairment due to inadequate opinions in previous VA examinations. The AOJ is instructed to obtain adequate etiological opinions on these issues.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected lumbosacral strain is being remanded due to the need for clarification regarding functional loss or impairment with repeated use over time.

The Veteran's lung disability, including COPD and fibrotic nonspecific interstitial pneumonia, is granted as service-connected due to exposure in the Southwest Asia theater of operations. The Board also found that his pulmonary embolism may be related to service but requires further examination for a definitive opinion.

The Board denied service connection for a thoracolumbar spine disorder and denied increased ratings for right knee tendonitis, obstructive sleep apnea, right foot pes planus, right upper lip scar, and upper back sebaceous cyst.,A separate compensable rating was granted for painful scar post-upper back sebaceous cyst excision.

The Board has remanded the claims due to inadequate examinations and the need for updated evaluations of the Veteran's right knee, lumbosacral spine, and left shoulder disabilities. The Veteran is also seeking service connection for a left shoulder disability.

The Board has determined that the VA examination and opinion provided were inadequate to decide the claim, as they did not consider the Veteran's reported in-service exposures to asbestos and/or herbicide agents. The case is being remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings due to outstanding VA treatment records, SSA records, and examination reports being needed. The issues include back disability, respiratory disability (sarcoidosis), sleep disability (sleep apnea), left knee degenerative joint disease, right knee degenerative joint disease, and TDIU.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as it began during his active military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, fibromyalgia, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and obstructive sleep apnea due to inadequate evaluations and opinions provided by VA examiners. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that his service-connected disabilities did not cause or aggravate his obesity, which is a contributing factor to his sleep apnea.