Sleep apnea decisions — 2023

The Board has determined that additional examinations and medical opinions are needed to determine the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected conditions, as well as whether his sleep apnea is related to toxic exposure risk activities (TERAs) during service. The claims for higher evaluations and service connection are being remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disability and sleep apnea due to inadequate opinions in previous VA examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for thoracic spine degenerative disc disease, lumbar spine intervertebral disc syndrome, bilateral laminectomy residuals, degenerative arthritis, and lumbosacral strain. The decision is based on the Veteran's in-service parachute jumps which are considered to have caused these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development to determine his duty status during reserve service in the United States Coast Guard and United States Navy Reserve, as this will impact whether his contended onset dates occurred during periods of service when he was a Veteran for VA purposes.

The Board has dismissed the claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to service-connected hypertension because it was already denied by a previous decision and is not currently before the Board.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is granted as secondary to his service-connected disabilities. The rating for cervical strain remains remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea, including its relation to service and in-service herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for updated VA and private treatment records, as well as an examination of his lumbosacral strain. Additionally, a SOC must be issued regarding service connection for a cervical spine disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient information regarding the severity and manifestations of the Veteran's service-connected sacral coccyx disability, including lumbosacral strain and IVDS, from February 2, 2016 to July 7, 2020. The examiner is required to provide a retrospective opinion estimating any additional degrees of limited motion caused by functional loss during flare-ups or with repeated use over time.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, finding that there is not sufficient evidence to support a link between his current condition and any service-connected disability.

The Board has granted service connection for a neck disability, radiculopathy of the bilateral upper extremities, bilateral flat feet, and sleep apnea. The conditions are considered to have started during active duty.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability and remanded the issue of rating in excess of 10 percent for ulcerative colitis.

The Veteran's headaches are currently rated as noncompensable, but her claim for service connection is remanded.,The Veteran's gastric ulcer is secondary to prescribed medication for service-connected headaches and the claim is reopened. Service connection is also remanded.,Service connection for cervical spine disorder is granted based on an in-service motor vehicle accident and prolonged sitting during IT work. The claim is remanded.,Service connection for back disorder is granted based on an in-service motor vehicle accident, prolonged sitting during IT work, and a very poor mattress during deployment. The claim is also remanded.,The Veteran's left forearm and right forearm disorders are service-connected but the claims are remanded due to lack of specific diagnoses or additional evidence needed.,Service connection for left forearm disorder is granted based on an in-service motor vehicle accident and prolonged sitting during IT work. The claim is also remanded.

The Veteran's sleep related breathing disorder with CPAP, also diagnosed as obstructive sleep apnea, is granted. The issues of service connection for a low back disability and GERD are remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right ankle disability, residuals of cold injury of hands and feet (right hand, left hand, right foot, left foot), sleep apnea, and hypertension due to lack of evidence supporting these conditions during or immediately following service. The cases are remanded for further examination and opinion regarding the etiology of these disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected PTSD with alcohol use disorder caused or aggravated his obstructive sleep apnea.

The Veteran's left knee strain, erectile dysfunction, and lumbosacral strain have been granted service connection.,A disability rating of 40 percent for the Veteran's lumbosacral strain has been assigned.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, due to a Gulf War illness, is denied as there is no evidence of an undiagnosed illness or medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illness. The right shoulder disability and high blood pressure are granted but the right shoulder disability is remanded.,Service connection for the right shoulder disability is granted based on direct service connection. Service connection for high blood pressure secondary to PTSD is also granted.

The Board has remanded the claim for additional opinions to determine if the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is secondary or aggravated by her service-connected PTSD and/or sinusitis, as well as whether obesity caused by her service-connected disabilities contributed to her OSA.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development, including a new VA examination to assess the severity of the Veteran's low back disability, determine the etiology of his sleep apnea and headaches, and determine if his nosebleeds are related to service. The Veteran's claim for skin rash was withdrawn.