Sleep apnea decisions — 2023

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea, finding that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether the Veteran's sleep apnea had its onset in service.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea was found to have begun during service and is granted as a direct service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) has been reopened due to new and relevant evidence, and the Board has determined that OSA is etiologically related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether the Veteran's condition had its onset in service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea is granted. The Board finds that the evidence supports the claim and entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea is warranted.

The Board has granted readjudication of the claim for service connection for sleep apnea due to new and relevant evidence submitted by the Veteran. However, the RO did not adjudicate the merits of the Veteran's theory that anxiety and PTSD from service caused his sleep apnea. The case is remanded for further consideration.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea. The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is now considered to have begun during or is otherwise related to a period of active service, including exposure to burn pits. Service connection is granted.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating of 40 percent for multilevel osteoarthritis and lumbosacral spine DDD was granted, effective July 7, 2023.

The Board has ordered the development of a medical advisory opinion to determine if the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is related to his service or caused by his service-connected disabilities, including asthma/chronic cough and/or diabetes. The opinion must consider all potential toxic exposure risk activities (TERA) for the Veteran.

The Board has determined that the remand directives have not been substantially complied with and thus, the case is being returned to the RO for further development.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea was granted service connection as it is considered to have had its onset during her military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) as there is insufficient evidence to substantiate a reasonable possibility that he is unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities. The Veteran's problems with employment were attributed to behavioral incidents, such as being late or disagreements with management, rather than due to any service-connected condition.

The Veteran withdrew all appeals related to the listed conditions and issues, effectively dismissing them.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is related to his service or if it was caused by his pre-existing cardiovascular condition. The case will be returned for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and increased evaluations have been withdrawn by her authorized representative.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea should be remanded for further examination and opinion regarding whether it is related to his service-connected PTSD, as well as whether his obesity (caused by or aggravated by his PTSD) contributed to his sleep apnea.

The Board has granted service connection for back disability, allergies, sinusitis, headaches, sleep apnea, and COPD. The Veteran's left lower extremity radiculopathy is also found to be related to his now service-connected degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal prior to the promulgation of a decision.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea has been reopened, and the case is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the condition.

The Board has granted the Veteran's application to reopen his claim of service connection for sleep apnea and has also granted service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected PTSD. The decision is based on an approximately even balance of evidence, with some medical opinions suggesting a causal link between PTSD and sleep apnea.