Sleep apnea decisions — 2023

The Board denied a compensable rating for mild pleurisy, residuals of recurrent pleuritic pain, to include OSA. The Veteran's pre-existing level of disability included OSA with the use of a CPAP machine, and thus the pre-aggravation percentage most closely approximated a 50 percent rating under DC 6847.

The Veteran's claims for sleep apnea and PTSD have been remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.,The Veteran's claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, has also been remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea has been reopened, but the Board finds that additional development is necessary to determine if his sleep apnea is related to his military service or any other conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is aggravated by his service-connected mental health condition, and thus grants service connection for this disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied in a final decision. The Board has now granted the Veteran's secondary service connection claim for sleep apnea, finding that it is caused by his obesity, which is linked to his PTSD.

The claim for service connection of a lower back disorder is reopened, but the issue remains remanded due to insufficient medical opinion regarding its etiology.

The Veteran's sleep apnea, left shoulder joint separation, and knee chondromalacia have all been rated as per the current criteria without meeting the requirements for higher ratings.,Higher ratings are not warranted due to lack of evidence showing respiratory failure or tracheostomy required for a 100% rating for sleep apnea.

The Board has granted service connection for a back condition and a neck condition, both of which were claimed by the Veteran. The conditions are deemed to have begun during active military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to his exposure to herbicide agents, including Agent Orange. The claims are being reviewed again to determine if there is sufficient evidence of in-service exposure and causation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding his respiratory disability, headaches, and OSA.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea is being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding its onset and causation.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection of sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected psychiatric disability.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and dry eyes, as these issues are intertwined and require further development to address the adequacy of the previous VA examination.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and sleep disorder (to include sleep apnea) due to incomplete records and need for further examination.

The Veteran's cervical spine disorder is denied as there is no current diagnosis.,Service connection for the lumbar spine disorder due to bilateral pes planus is granted.,Service connection for right elbow disorder and left wrist disorder are remanded due to lack of VA examination.,Service connection for right wrist disorder is remanded due to lack of VA examination.,Obstructive sleep apnea secondary to service-connected coronary artery disease, hypertension, tension headaches, or bilateral pes planus is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability through obesity.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea, finding that it is proximately due to his service-connected post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The Board has remanded the claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities prior to August 13, 2012, as further development is needed to determine if the Veteran was unable to engage in substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's hypertension and sleep apnea claims are remanded due to the need for additional medical examination. The Veteran is presumed exposed to toxic substances during service, but a TERA medical examination is required.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development related to toxic exposure and other medical issues. The specific nature of his disabilities, including their etiology, will be further evaluated.