Sleep apnea decisions — 2023

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and remanded the issue of service connection for gastrointestinal disability, to include GERD.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is caused or aggravated by his service-connected psychiatric disability, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and an addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea. Service connection for a low back disability is denied, while service connection for obstructive sleep apnea remains pending.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus has been reopened and granted. The Board also remanded the issue of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea due to insufficient medical opinions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection related to back, left knee, OSA, digestion condition, painful joints, fatigue, and skin conditions have been remanded due to the need for additional development.,Specifically, a VA examination is required to address the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and hypertension are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for obstructive sleep apnea, bronchitis, and hypertension due to the need for additional VA treatment records and private medical opinions. The Veteran must provide information about any private doctors who have treated him related to these conditions.

The Board has denied higher ratings for the Veteran's lumbosacral strain and left knee disabilities, but the case is being remanded to obtain additional medical records.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining an addendum VA medical opinion regarding the Veteran's respiratory disorder and TDIU claim. The Veteran is now service connected for sleep apnea but not asthma.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient service records and a need for a medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's sleep apnea. The Veteran is asked to provide additional evidence, including Air Force service records, and a VA examination will be scheduled.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and effective dates have been dismissed due to the Veteran requesting to withdraw his appeals.,The Veteran has service-connected disabilities including Obstructive Sleep Apnea with Asthma, Major Depressive Disorder with Borderline Personality Disorder, Degenerative Joint Disease of the Right Knee, Degenerative Disc Disease with Degenerative Joint Disease of the Lumbar Spine, and Degenerative Disc Disease with Degenerative Joint Disease of the Cervical Spine.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for traumatic brain injury and an increased rating for lumbosacral strain have been withdrawn. The TDIU claim has also been denied as the evidence is insufficient to establish that his service-connected disabilities alone are of such severity so as to preclude substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service-connected.,The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and anxiety is granted. The Board finds the evidence to be in approximate balance as to whether the Veteran's current psychiatric disorder is related to his military service.,The Veteran's claim of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is granted. The private examiner opined that it was more likely than not secondary to his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's character of discharge for the period from August 1, 1984 to October 10, 1985 is not a bar to VA benefits. The appeal regarding service connection for sleep apnea is remanded due to lack of a VA examination and outstanding treatment records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea had its onset during active service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings due to insufficient information from previous VA examinations regarding his lumbosacral, cervical, and left knee disabilities. The AOJ is instructed to obtain updated treatment records and arrange for new orthopedic examinations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to incomplete records and the need to obtain additional medical evidence. The Veteran is also scheduled for VA examinations to determine if his current conditions are related to his military service or other service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeals for earlier effective dates for service connection and ratings have been denied.,Specifically, the Board found that no earlier effective date could be granted due to a July 6, 2017 auto-generated 'intent to file' form which did not preserve an effective date of July 6, 2017.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea is related to his service-connected depressive disorder and grants the claim for service connection.