Sleep apnea decisions — 2023

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that it is secondary to his service-connected PTSD. The evidence shows that the Veteran's obesity, which was caused by his PTSD, contributed to his development of sleep apnea.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain and sciatic nerve damage of the right lower extremity are granted service connection. His cervical strain, as well as his radicular nerve damage in both upper extremities, are denied.

The Veteran's left hip disability, TBI rating, and effective date for TDIU are being remanded due to procedural errors.,Specifically, the August 2019 opinion by a VA examiner was not considered in the decision.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection for pancreatitis, a back condition, hypertension, a neck condition, and sleep apnea.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings of OSA and depressive disorder, as well as service connection for a right knee strain, were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support granting any of these claims.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to service-connected PTSD and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, with obesity serving as an intermediate step.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including cervical spine, thoracolumbar spine, left knee, and left ankle conditions.

The Veteran's back brace caused wear and tear to his shirts, leading to the grant of a clothing allowance for 2019.,Both of the Veteran's knee braces (right and left) caused wear and tear to his pants, resulting in the grant of two additional clothing allowances for 2019.

The Veteran's service connection claim for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is denied because the current OSA did not have its onset in service and is not otherwise etiologically related to service.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted as service-connected based on a confirmed in-service stressor.,Service connection for lumbosacral strain is granted, with the opinion being approximately evenly balanced.,Service connection for residuals of head injury (TBI, headaches, and blurry vision) is remanded due to inadequate medical examination.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea, right shoulder condition, left shoulder condition, right elbow condition, and left elbow condition are all granted as service-connected.,Reasoning: The evidence shows that the Veteran experienced these conditions during his active duty service and continues to experience them post-service.

The appeal for service connection of obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to PTSD is dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea is aggravated by his service-connected PTSD, and thus grants entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea secondary to PTSD.

The Board has remanded the TDIU claim due to additional development being necessary, including obtaining employment information from the Veteran's employers and reviewing his Community Care Program records. The case will be readjudicated after any further development.

The Board has determined that more development is needed to decide the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, including whether it is related to his active service and if it is caused or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea is related to his service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea has been granted.,The Veteran's claim to reopen his right knee disability was successful, and the issue is now remanded for further examination.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea but denied service connection for difficulty sleeping. Obstructive sleep apnea is found to be related to active duty, while difficulty sleeping is not considered a separate disability warranting service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnosis of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) had its onset during his active service and granted service connection for OSA on a direct basis, resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's claims for neck disability, tinnitus, and OSA as secondary to PTSD are all granted.