Sleep apnea decisions — 2023

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding the onset and relationship of his claimed disabilities to active service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's sleep apnea, its cause and aggravation by his service-connected disabilities or medications, as well as whether his weight gain was an intermediate step in developing his sleep apnea.

The Board has decided that a VA examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is related to his service, specifically noting his report of snoring during service and continuing since then.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is being remanded for further examination and opinion as the current opinions do not address whether his service-connected disabilities aggravated his obesity, which in turn caused or aggravated his sleep apnea.

The Veteran's PTSD warrants a rating of 70 percent, and he is granted TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and PDD are found to be the primary cause of his obstructive sleep apnea, resulting in a grant of a 70% rating for PTSD and PDD as of February 20, 2018. The claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for his degenerative arthritis with lumbosacral strain is remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records from the period on appeal and scheduling another VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected post-traumatic paralumbar muscle spasm, finding that all reasonable doubt should be resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary for the mental health and obstructive sleep apnea claims, including obtaining medical opinions and potentially obtaining post-service treatment records.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's diagnosed obesity, which is related to his service-connected right and left knee disabilities, was a result of his service-connected conditions. The decision resolves all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is granted as secondary to his service-connected PTSD. The right shoulder impingement issue is remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for obstructive sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to new evidence received since final decisions. The claims are being reopened as new and material evidence has been submitted.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea, finding that it likely began during his military service.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the issue of service connection for sleep apnea. The decision on bilateral hearing loss is based on a finding that the Veteran does not have current hearing loss as defined by VA standards, and there is no evidence linking his hearing loss to in-service noise exposure or any other in-service event. Service connection was denied because the evidence does not support a link between the Veteran's hearing loss and military service. The Board also remanded for an addendum opinion regarding whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is secondary to his PTSD.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient opinions regarding the etiology of his obstructive sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, and right lower extremity lumbar radiculopathy. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and cervical spine disability are being remanded due to the need for additional development.,Further evidence is required to determine if these conditions were incurred or aggravated during military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea syndrome had its onset during his service in Southwest Asia and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for obstructive sleep apnea and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to potential service connection based on in-service exposure. The RO must obtain a VA examination and opinion addressing these issues, considering the Veteran's reported in-service exposures.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient opinions regarding service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, including as secondary to service-connected disabilities and/or obesity. The Veteran's claims will be reviewed with a new opinion.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions.,The Veteran is seeking service connection for various conditions, including a left knee condition, obstructive sleep apnea, chronic kidney disease, liver condition, and diabetes mellitus, type II.