Sleep apnea decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for an examination and medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea, which may be related to service or worsened by his service-connected disabilities. The PACT Act requires VA to provide such an examination if the Veteran claims it is related to toxic exposure during service.

The Board has granted service connection for recurrent lumbosacral spine injury residuals including lumbosacral strain, finding that the Veteran's condition originated during active service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is related to his military service, specifically during his deployment in Afghanistan. The decision also requires a new examination and opinion on whether the condition may be linked to toxic exposure.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted at a rating of 70 percent prior to March 21, 2019. Sleep apnea and headaches are granted service connection based on the PACT Act presumption. The effective date for these grants is not specified.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea on a secondary basis, finding that the Veteran's PTSD with major depressive disorder served as an intermediate step between his current diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea and obesity.

The Veteran's left knee instability is granted a separate 10 percent rating, effective January 31, 2020. The claims for service connection and increased ratings for other conditions are remanded due to allegations of worsening.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA opinion regarding whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is caused by or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development of his medical records.,The Veteran is seeking an increase in rating for his left elbow disability, which includes limitation of flexion and extension. The Board has determined that further examination and opinion are needed.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the service-connected back disability caused or aggravated the Veteran's obesity, which in turn may have contributed to his OSA. The Veteran needs a VA examination to address these issues.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's current condition is due to symptoms he experienced during active duty. The right ear hearing loss claim was denied as there is no evidence of a nexus between the current disability and service.,While the Veteran reported noise exposure in service, his post-service medical records do not show any complaints or treatment for hearing loss until over a decade after separation from service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's sleep apnea is related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for prostate cancer, soft tissue sarcoma of the right wrist, an acquired psychiatric disorder, and sleep apnea due to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The claims are being remanded because VA examinations were not conducted or opinions provided regarding these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for deviated septum and sleep apnea, finding no current disability of a deviated septum and that the Veteran's sleep apnea is not related to his claimed deviated septum.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for dementia, unspecified anxiety disorder, kidney condition, chronic fatigue (also claimed as sleep disorder), migraines, bilateral vision loss, and allergies have been denied. The Veteran is granted TDIU.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for a compensable disability rating and an earlier effective date are remanded due to the need for updated medical records and examination. The service connection claim is also remanded as it was not fully adjudicated in the August 2018 rating decision.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The issue of service connection for a low back condition is being remanded due to insufficient medical opinion.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected sinusitis.

Service connection for hypertension is granted. Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinion regarding the onset of sleep apnea during service and its relationship to service-connected conditions.

The Board denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that it was not incurred or aggravated by service and is not related to a service-connected condition. The decision also denied TDIU due to the Veteran's combined overall 100 percent schedular rating.