Sleep apnea decisions — 2023

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a pulmonary disability, recurrent sleep disability, and bilateral hearing loss has been remanded due to insufficient development of evidence regarding his exposure claims. The Board also found the VA opinions inadequate and requested new opinions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is related to service, including an in-service IED injury, and whether OSA is aggravated by obesity or proximately due to TBI. Additional development is needed.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's sleep apnea and potential exposure to toxic substances during service. The Veteran is seeking service connection for his obstructive sleep apnea, which he claims began in service. However, the VA examiner found no link between his current condition and active duty service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The issues of service connection for right and left lower extremity neuropathy, as a result of exposure to an herbicide agent, are remanded.,Service connection for OSA was denied because there is no evidence linking the current condition to service. Service connection for right and left lower extremity neuropathy were also remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding their onset or relationship to service.

The Veteran's OSA is granted as secondary to her service-connected PTSD with obesity. The ratings for her neck and back disabilities remain at 20 percent.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing an addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's right ankle condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation, including his past work as an account representative or in systems design.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating for various conditions due to inadequate medical opinions in prior examinations.

The Board has found the previous examination reports for the right wrist disability to be inadequate and has ordered a remanded with instructions to conduct a Sharp-compliant examination. For sleep apnea, the AOJ is instructed to comply with the PACT Act's requirement to schedule an examination and request a medical opinion due to potential asbestos exposure.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and bipolar disorder, is granted as at least as likely as not related to service.,The Veteran's sleep apnea is granted as at least as likely as not related to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and rating issues have been dismissed due to her withdrawal of the appeal.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient examination and opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's sleep apnea, specifically whether it is related to service-connected PTSD or caused by obesity.

Service connection for a lumbar spine disability, radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, and radiculopathy of the left lower extremity has been granted.,The Veteran's current lumbar spine disabilities are considered to have had their onset during his active service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's conditions and his enlarged navicular tuberosities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disorder is remanded.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disorder is remanded.

The Board denied service connection for a thoracolumbar spine disorder, finding that the Veteran's current diagnoses of acquired thoracolumbar spine arthritis and degenerative disc disease are not etiologically related to or attributable to service.

The Veteran's chronic lymphocytic leukemia is granted service connection based on presumed exposure to herbicide agents during service. The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is denied as not related to his active duty.

The Board has reopened the claims for OSA and CAD, as well as for left ankle, right ankle, right hip, and right foot disabilities. The claims are now remanded to obtain medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability during or proximate to the appeal period.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea/disturbances is remanded due to insufficient medical evidence showing a current disability at any time during or proximate to the appeal period. The claim for acquired psychiatric disorder (insomnia) and hypertension are also remanded as they may be related to the Veteran's service-connected myocardial infarction.

The Veteran's Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) was incurred during service and the Board granted service connection for this condition.