Sleep apnea decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for cervical disability and OSA due to inadequate medical opinions regarding causation and aggravation by service-connected conditions. The case is returned for further development.

The appeal of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen a claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is dismissed.,Service connection for a back disorder, neck disorder, right elbow disorder, left elbow disorder, and OSA are denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for chemical hypersensitivity, chronic fatigue syndrome (claimed as fatigue and soreness), residuals of a back injury (claimed as back injury between shoulder blades), skin disability (claimed as burning and stinging of skin), skin cancer(s), and sleep apnea due to incomplete development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, hypertension, PTSD, bilateral ankle disability, bilateral hearing loss, and pain and swelling of the left leg have been dismissed as moot due to prior grants of service connection.,Service connection has been granted for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, finding that it is not related to his military service or any service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's sleep apnea and colitis claims, specifically related to burn pit exposure. The Veteran's service connection for sleep apnea is being considered under presumptive service connection based on his Gulf War service and burn pit exposure. His claim for colitis is not presumed as it does not meet the criteria for a MUCMI or undiagnosed illness.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's lumbosacral spine disability, to include lumbosacral strain, bulging discs and degenerative arthritis. The claim for secondary service connection for left lower extremity and right lower extremity radiculopathy as secondary to lumbar spine disability is remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for gout and obstructive sleep apnea due to inadequate medical opinions in previous VA examinations.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability, finding no evidence of chronicity or causation. The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) with insomnia was dismissed as the grant of PTSD included separate sleep impairment/insomnia.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea and his service-connected disabilities, specifically cervical spine condition, residuals of traumatic head injury, and tinnitus.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for hypertension, an upper respiratory disability, a right wrist disability, a gastrointestinal disability other than IBS, obstructive sleep apnea, and a right hip strain. The evidence does not establish a direct relationship between these conditions and her military service.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary for the Veteran's claims of service connection for sleep apnea and bilateral plantar fasciitis, including a new examination to determine the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is secondary to his service-connected major depressive disorder. The VA will need to obtain additional medical opinions and potentially a TERA examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for OSA, lumbar spine disorder, and bilateral metatarsalgia due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of PTSD has been reopened, but the evidence does not support reopening the claim for obstructive sleep apnea.,The Veteran's left wrist limitation of dorsiflexion and left wrist ganglion cyst have both been remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's disabilities. The claims are not currently decided.

The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability is remanded for further evaluation to determine the appropriate rating.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, right knee disability, COPD, OSA secondary to PTSD, and other disabilities have been granted. The appeal is not about service connection for exposure-related conditions.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection of sleep apnea, and the Board dismissed the claim.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and dismissed the issue of entitlement to TDIU as moot due to a grant of TDIU. The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50%.