Sleep apnea decisions — 2023

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected sinusitis, finding that the nasal congestion associated with his sinusitis was a contributing factor in causing his current obstructive sleep apnea.

The appeals for service connection on all issues have been dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Board denied service connection for right shoulder disorder, left shoulder disorder, and obstructive sleep apnea as the evidence did not show these conditions began during active service or were related to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbosacral strain (low back pain) has been reopened. The claims for neck and back disabilities are remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left knee strain with patellofemoral pain syndrome and intervertebral disc syndrome with lumbosacral strain are remanded due to the need for additional examinations to assess the severity of his conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for OSA was granted, and his PTSD disability rating was denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination, and a new one must be conducted to determine if the Veteran's back disability is related to her active-duty service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding service connection for hypertension secondary to PTSD and/or obstructive sleep apnea. The Veteran's hypertension was not diagnosed until at least three years post-service, and there are conflicting reports of blood pressure readings in service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and benefits related to his service-connected lumbosacral spine disability are being remanded due to the need for further examination and development of evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a lack of timely receipt of a notice of disagreement (NOD) regarding the April 2016 rating decision.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is found to be the cause of his current obstructive sleep apnea, and therefore service connection for OSA is granted.

The appeal is dismissed for the claims of bilateral hearing loss, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, left leg amputation, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, sleep apnea, stroke, glaucoma, and cataracts. The remaining issues are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU was dismissed as moot because he has been in receipt of a total (100 percent) disability rating since February 26, 2016.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as secondary to his service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), finding that there is no evidence linking OSA to his active or Reserve service, and that it was not caused by or aggravated by his PTSD.

The Board has remanded the claims for lumbosacral strain, right sciatic radiculopathy, and left sciatic radiculopathy due to insufficient information regarding the severity of the Veteran's flare-ups during VA examinations.

Your claim for service connection for sleep apnea has been granted, and the appeal is dismissed as it has been fully addressed.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left Achilles tendonitis, bilateral plantar fasciitis, sinus disability, and OSA have been granted. The claim for a compensable rating for hypertension is denied.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss is denied. The issues of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, and sleep apnea as secondary to an acquired psychiatric disability are remanded due to inconsistencies in the evidence and need further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is remanded due to his failure to attend a scheduled VA examination. The case will be returned for another VA examination and the provision of any outstanding records.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for right knee disability and sleep apnea, finding no evidence linking these conditions to military service or a service-connected condition.