Sleep apnea decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for chronic fatigue, a sleep disorder (including sleep apnea), headaches, and joint pains as claimed as Gulf War Syndrome due to new evidence being added to the file by VA.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea. The left knee disability issue is remanded due to incomplete records.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for OSA and bilateral foot disability due to inadequate opinions in previous VA examinations. The Veteran's duty status during periods of ACDUTRA or INACDUTRA needs to be verified, and new addendum opinions are required from an examiner other than the previous ones.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an acquired psychiatric disability, a sleep disorder, right ear hearing loss, and tinnitus due to potential new evidence and need for further examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current condition and his military service or any service-connected disabilities. The Board also found against secondary service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's sleep apnea and its relationship to his service-connected disabilities. The Veteran contends that his psychiatric disorder, back, knee, and feet disabilities have caused or aggravated his sleep apnea.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is secondary to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is denied prior to April 9, 2018 and dismissed from that date onwards due to his combined disability rating of 100 percent. The SMC based on housebound status is also denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between his current diagnosis and his time in active duty.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease is service-connected. The Board found that the Veteran had a current disability (lumbar strain), in-service incurrence of a disease or injury (back pain during service), and a causal relationship between his back pain and his current condition.

The Veteran's right elbow disorder, left elbow disorder, and fifth metacarpal injury of the right hand did not have their onset in service or are not related to service.,The Veteran's low back disorder did not have its onset in service or until many years thereafter and is not related to service or an incident of service origin.,The Veteran's right knee disorder did not have its onset in service or until many years thereafter and is not related to service or an incident of service origin.,Due to the Veteran's failure to report for examinations, there is insufficient evidence to establish that his obstructive sleep apnea is related to service or a service-connected condition, or whether it represents an undiagnosed illness that cannot be attributed to a known clinical diagnosis.,The Veteran's acne keloidalis did not have its onset in service.,The Veteran's alopecia areata did not have its onset in service.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for residuals of a back injury and sleep apnea due to inadequate opinions in the VA examinations.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus, plantar fasciitis, tinnitus, and sleep apnea are all found to be related to his military service.,Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions regarding service connection for obstructive sleep apnea. The Veteran's OSA is found less likely related to his service, but a new opinion on whether it is secondary to PTSD or obesity is needed.

The Board has remanded the claim for a new medical opinion to address whether it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran's back disability was incurred in or related to service, specifically his reports of heavy lifting during service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations and consideration of all evidence. The claims for service connection are related to the Veteran's active duty service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's service-connected disabilities and his diagnosed obstructive sleep apnea, as well as the potential role of obesity in causing or aggravating OSA.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to determine the etiology of the Veteran's lumbar condition and whether any current low back disability found pre-existed service.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete information regarding the Veteran's periods of active duty, ACDUTRA, and INACDUTRA. The Veteran is also seeking service connection for OSA as secondary to his PTSD with depressive symptoms. The Board requests an opinion on whether the Veteran's OSA is related to his military service or if it constitutes a MUCMI.

The Veteran's initial 40 percent rating for degenerative arthritis of the lumbosacral spine is granted, effective July 19, 2013. The case is remanded for further evaluation regarding TDIU.