Sleep apnea decisions — 2023

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with major depressive disorder rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment from December 31, 2015. From March 28, 2017, the Veteran's award of TDIU was predicated on PTSD alone and his additional service-connected disabilities were independently ratable at 60 percent or more.

The Veteran's persistent hypoxia treated with a PAP machine is granted as service connected. The TDIU claim prior to July 16, 2014, is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for additional development. The issues include obstructive sleep apnea, hypertension, nocturnal bruxism, and a right knee condition.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to ensure proper development and consideration of the Veteran's claims, particularly regarding his service-connected back disability and scar.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is related to his service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the Board is remanding these issues due to insufficient evidence.,Further examination and evaluation are needed to determine if the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is being remanded due to the lack of a nexus opinion in the VA examination report.,Service connection has been granted for sinusitis with allergic rhinitis, and GERD remains denied.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and OSA, in combination, prevented him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment throughout the period on appeal. The Board granted entitlement to TDIU.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a tonsillectomy, finding no current disability related to the procedure. The issue of entitlement to increased ratings and TDIU was also remanded due to inextricably intertwined issues.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his service-connected lumbar spine disability is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a new VA examination.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for obstructive sleep apnea, as secondary to his service-connected sarcoidosis. The decision is based on the need to locate the Veteran's July 1989 separation examination from active duty.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, finding that it is not related to his service-connected tension headaches and concluding that there was no causal relationship between the current diagnosis of sleep apnea and his military service.

The Board has remanded the claim for a VA examiner's opinion to determine if the Veteran's current lumbosacral spine disability is related to his in-service back complaints and whether there is clear and unmistakable evidence that it was not aggravated by service.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a vision disorder has been withdrawn.,Service connection is granted for tinnitus, with the presumption of exposure to toxic substances during active duty.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for polyarteritis nodosa (PAN), kidney condition, bilateral hip condition, thyroid condition, and gastrointestinal condition are all granted. The claim for service connection for a gastrointestinal condition is remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea and hypertension, both of which are found to have begun during periods of active duty training (ACDUTRA). The Veteran's allergic rhinitis is not considered service-connected.,Eligibility for nonservice-connected pension benefits from May 22, 2015 based on permanent and total disability has been granted.

The Veteran's migraine headaches, left knee condition, right knee condition, back condition, and sleep apnea are all found to be etiologically linked to his active-duty service.,Service connection is granted for the Veteran's migraine headaches, bilateral knee conditions (left and right), and back condition.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, his sleep apnea is service connected, he is granted a total disability rating due to individual unemployability, and he has been denied a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis of sleep apnea first manifested in service and has continued since.

The Veteran's sleep apnea and hypogonadism are remanded for further examination and opinion due to the possibility of secondary service connection.