Sleep apnea decisions — 2023

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, sleep apnea, and a respiratory disorder (asthma) as these conditions are related to the Veteran's active duty service.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to insufficient opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea. The Veteran is granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has reopened several service connection claims but denied some, resulting in a mixed disposition. The Veteran's new evidence relates to the unestablished facts necessary for reopening these claims.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment during the period from September 22, 2009, to prior to December 16, 2017. Therefore, entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability is granted for this period.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for sleep apnea and remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea and GERD. The Veteran's PTSD is alleged to have contributed to or exacerbated his sleep apnea, but an addendum opinion is needed regarding whether it caused or aggravated his sleep apnea.

The Veteran's claims for a higher rating for her thoracolumbar osteoarthritis and lumbosacral strain, as well as service connection for her left knee disability, are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's degenerative arthritis of lumbar lower back, but remanded the claims for right shoulder condition and sleep apnea syndrome due to insufficient evidence.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee disability, left knee disability, sleep disorder (to include as due to service-connected deviated nasal septum and non-allergic rhinitis), and hypertension.,There is no evidence of any chronic knee condition during or within one year after service. The Veteran's current diagnoses are not related to his in-service injuries.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of obstructive sleep apnea, finding that there is no evidence linking his current disability to service.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including sleep apnea, anxiety disorder, and TBI. The claims for increased ratings and effective dates are also being reconsidered.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is caused by his service-connected PTSD and asthma, granting service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea (OSA) as it is at least as likely as not that the condition started in service.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, headaches, and hypertension. The Veteran's OSA is considered directly related to his military service. His headaches are linked to both the in-service symptoms and his current condition. Hypertension is found to be secondary to his service-connected obstructive sleep apnea.

The Veteran's respiratory disorder, diagnosed as asthma, is granted service connection. Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and restless leg syndrome is remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical spine disability, degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with lumbosacral strain, and tension headaches as secondary to cervical spine disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a sleep disorder, depression, and abnormal cells of cervix, status post hysterectomy and oophorosalpingectomy due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient reasoning in its February 2022 decision regarding service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as secondary to and/or aggravated by service-connected post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate opinions and further development is needed, including obtaining an adequate opinion on whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is related to service or as secondary to his service-connected depressive disorder.

The Veteran's service connection for PTSD was granted. Increased ratings were awarded for lumbar strain (40%), bilateral foot degenerative joint disease (10%), and migraine cephalgia (30%). The effective date for the increase to a 10 percent rating for bilateral feet degenerative joint disease is May 25, 2017.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for PTSD and sleep apnea, as well as his TDIU claim, are being remanded due to the need for updated VA examinations.