Sleep apnea decisions — 2023

Service connection for sleep apnea is granted. The Veteran's current diagnosis of sleep apnea is related to in-service stress.,Service connection for left ankle impairment on a secondary basis is remanded due to lack of evidence linking the condition to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, sleep apnea, and knee conditions, render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU rating.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD. Service connection for gastrointestinal disorder is dismissed.

The Board has vacated the August 2022 decision and remanded three issues: service connection for bilateral shoulder disability, service connection for lumbosacral spine condition, and entitlement to TDIU.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is secondary to his service-connected cervical spine disability, and thus grants service connection for OSA.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to his service-connected disabilities, finding that the evidence did not support a conclusion that he was unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded to determine if his obstructive sleep apnea was caused or aggravated by his service-connected unspecified depressive disorder.

The Veteran's topical medications and back brace used during 2016 caused damage to his clothing, leading to the grant of clothing allowances for these items.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete compliance with previous remand directives regarding radiation exposure. The case is being returned to the Jackson Regional Office for further action.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for sleep apnea was reopened and granted, with the condition being secondary to his service-connected major depressive disorder and degenerative arthritis.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability evaluation in excess of 40 percent for lumbosacral strain with degenerative joint disease was denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea and his military service, as well as its relation to his service-connected cervical spine disability. The Veteran will need a new VA examination to address these issues.

The Veteran's claims have been remanded due to the need for further evaluation and evidence, including service connection for various conditions secondary to existing disabilities.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development, including verifying service dates and obtaining medical records. The right knee disability claim is also being remanded to determine if it is related to service or secondary to a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea was not incurred in service and the claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has found that the Veteran's service connection claims for a right shoulder disability and obstructive sleep apnea are remanded due to insufficient evidence in the record.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The Veteran should be provided with a new VA medical opinion addressing causation and aggravation.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected. The left knee, bilateral heel disorder with plantar fasciitis (secondary to the non-service-connected left knee disorder), left wrist disorder, right wrist disorder, lumbosacral strain, hypertension, migraines, and vertigo/syncope are all remanded for further review.

The Veteran's right knee condition, erectile dysfunction, GERD, left hip strain, and right hip strain are all found to be secondary to his service-connected left knee meniscal tear. The Board has granted service connection for these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to depressive disorder and postnasal drip as secondary to nasal fracture, post open rhinoplasty. The issues have been remanded for further examination of bilateral sciatica.