Sleep apnea decisions — 2023

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development and readjudication due to incomplete VA assistance in obtaining relevant medical records.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is remanded for further evaluation due to inadequate previous medical opinions. The VA will obtain a new opinion from a different examiner to determine the nature and etiology of the condition, including whether it is related to service or secondary to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate compliance with previous remand directives, specifically regarding an addendum opinion on whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is related to his service-connected depression and bronchitis.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a low back disability, finding that new and material evidence was received. The claim is now considered granted.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is related to his service-connected schizoaffective disorder. The Veteran will need a new examination to determine if there is any connection between his OSA and his other conditions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and a bilateral knee disability, finding that there is no evidence to support these conditions were incurred or caused by his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, thoracic spine disability, right lower extremity neuropathy, and migraine headaches due to incomplete development of records.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea and remanded the issues of earlier effective dates for total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) and Dependents' Educational Assistance under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 35.

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

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea as there was no current diagnosis of the condition.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to outstanding service treatment records and updated VA treatment records are needed for a proper evaluation of the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea claim.

The Veteran's service-connected sleep apnea is granted as secondary to his service-connected hypertension. His back disability, prior to July 8, 2021, does not warrant a higher rating due to limited range of motion and no ankylosis or incapacitating episodes. The compensable rating for erectile dysfunction (ED) is denied. The reduction in the diverticulitis rating was improper, and the Veteran's original 10 percent rating is restored.

An increased initial rating of 20 percent (but no higher) for service-connected cervical spine IVDS is granted effective February 27, 2019.,An increased initial rating of 20 percent (but no higher) for service-connected lumbosacral spine IVDS is granted effective February 27, 2019.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that there was no link between his current condition and his military service. The evidence did not support a finding of exposure to volcanic eruptions during service as a cause of his sleep apnea.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, finding that it was incurred during his military service. The decision is based on direct evidence and does not address secondary service connection.

The Veteran's appeal of the issues of entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea, allergic rhinitis (claimed as sinusitis), right ear hearing loss and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) (claimed as intestinal condition) is dismissed.

The claim for service connection for OSA has been reopened, but the Board finds that a remand is necessary to obtain an adequate medical opinion regarding whether OSA was caused or aggravated by diabetes mellitus.

The Board has found that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for right ankle condition and sleep apnea, as the current medical opinions are inadequate. The case is being remanded to provide addendum VA medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including hypertension, squamous cell carcinoma, diabetes mellitus type 2, bladder cancer, sleep apnea, prostate cancer, and coronary artery disease, due to exposure to herbicides. The remand includes verifying Agent Orange exposure and scheduling VA examinations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is caused and aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus, granting the claim for service connection.