Sleep apnea decisions — 2023

The Veteran's hypertension was not rated as compensable prior to July 6, 2018.,There is no evidence of a current bilateral hearing loss disability for VA purposes during the appeal period.,Service connection for erectile dysfunction secondary to major depressive disorder has been granted.,Service connection for sleep apnea has not been established.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence and further development is needed, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and a new VA medical opinion. The Veteran's OSA may be related to service as a deep-sea diver.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings, service connection, and TDIU are being remanded due to procedural issues.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to November 21, 2012. Effective November 21, 2012, the evidence shows that he is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions regarding service connection for hypertension, including whether it is related to obstructive sleep apnea. Additional medical opinion is needed.

The Board has dismissed all service connection claims due to the appellant's death.

The Board has remanded the case due to pending issues involving service connection for PTSD and sleep apnea. The TDIU issue is also being remanded until these other claims are resolved.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluation of lumbosacral strain and service connection for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy are being remanded due to inadequate examinations. The Veteran needs a new VA examination to assess the severity of his lumbar spine disability, including any additional functional loss during flare-ups, and to determine if his radiculopathy is related to his lumbosacral strain or another service-connected condition.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection for tinnitus, headaches, back injury, nerve damage, plantar fasciitis (also claimed as foot pain), chest pain, sleep apnea, a head injury, and anxiety due to an invalid Notice of Disagreement submitted in March 2019.

The Veteran's low back disability is rated at 40 percent, effective September 28, 2022. The rating is based on the severity of his symptoms and functional impairment.

The Board has not completed the remand instructions for determining whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is related to service, including exposure to jet fuel fumes. The case is being returned for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected GERD, finding that the severe reflux of GERD caused significant sleep disturbance and compromised health.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea, finding that his current condition is related to his active military service.

The Board has reopened the previously denied claims for residuals of a heat stroke, headache condition, right leg condition, acquired psychiatric disorder, sleep apnea, and heart condition. The appeals are granted to this extent.

The Board has granted service connection for anxiety, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and erectile dysfunction (ED) as due to the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disorder. Service connection is remanded for asthma, right knee tendonitis and patellofemoral pain syndrome, left knee tendonitis and patellofemoral pain syndrome, migraines, and a bilateral foot disorder.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient reasoning in a previous VA examination regarding whether the Veteran's OSA is caused or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for irritable bowel syndrome and service connection for obstructive sleep apnea are being remanded due to the need for additional development of records.

The Veteran is granted a 40 percent rating for his service-connected degenerative arthritis of the lumbosacral spine from August 4, 2021 to July 24, 2022.,The Veteran's application for TDIU is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for OSA secondary to PTSD, with obesity as an intermediate step. The decision finds that the Veteran's PTSD caused him to become obese, which in turn caused his OSA.