Sleep apnea decisions — 2023

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder, considering his obesity as an intermediate step.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea is related to his service, and therefore grants the claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected conditions prevent him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment, thus granting his TDIU claim.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient development and need for further clarification regarding the etiology of OSA diagnosed in January 2018, specifically during periods of active duty training.

The Board has determined that the earliest possible effective date for the grant of service connection for OSA is September 2, 2015. The Veteran's claim was not earlier than this date due to finality of prior decisions and lack of communication indicating a new intent to apply.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected acquired psychiatric disability and musculoskeletal disabilities. The decision finds that the Veteran's current obesity, which is a result of his service-connected disabilities, contributes to his sleep apnea.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for OSA, bilateral hip disorders, and undiagnosed illness-related hip pain due to incomplete or insufficient medical opinions addressing all relevant inquiries.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various orthopedic conditions due to outstanding private and VA treatment records.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted. The Board finds that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation, warranting a TDIU award. For his sleep apnea claim, the Board has determined that a remand for further examination and opinion is necessary.

The Board has remanded the claims of increased ratings for left knee arthritis and status post total left knee replacement, as well as service connection for sleep apnea due to additional evidence being added to the record.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability and right lower extremity radiculopathy ratings have been restored to their effective dates, with the exception of a higher rating for his left lower extremity radiculopathy which is not an issue.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Veteran was granted service connection for headaches.

The Veteran's claims for an initial rating higher than 10 percent for lumbosacral strain and a combined disability rating higher than 30 percent are remanded due to the AOJ not substantially complying with the Board's instructions.

The Board has decided that more information is needed to determine if the Veteran's OSA is related to service, including exposure to burn pit toxins and his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development regarding his claims of increased ratings and service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome and sleep apnea.

The Board has granted service connection for a left elbow disability as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right shoulder disability. The appeal regarding obstructive sleep apnea is remanded.

The Veteran's appeal regarding service connection for various conditions was dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeals.,The Veteran is granted service connection for sleep apnea, which is etiologically related to his service-connected Parkinson's disease.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient opinions regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II (DM II) caused or aggravated his obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) during the Veteran's periods of active duty. The examiner is required to provide opinions on whether OSA had onset in or is otherwise related to each period of service and whether it was aggravated by any of these periods.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD, left ankle recurrent sprain, TBI, and headaches were denied. The claim to reopen service connection for low back disorder, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, and right ankle disorder was also denied.