Sleep apnea decisions — 2023

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's PTSD caused his obesity and thus his sleep apnea. Service connection for Meniere's disease was denied as there is no current disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient examination by a qualified orthopedist, and further development is needed.

The Veteran's claims for dental condition, sleep condition (claimed as sleep apnea), and left knee condition have been denied due to lack of current disability evidence.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for anemia and sleep apnea due to inadequate medical opinions regarding causation and aggravation.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea, hypertension, allergic rhinitis, sinusitis, and diabetes mellitus based on the presumption of exposure to Gulf War conditions. Service connection was denied for fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), esophageal stricture, a chronic skin disability, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and nephrolithiasis.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, sleep condition (to include sleep apnea), and headaches are all granted as service-connected.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral spine DJD and DDD.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's service-connected disabilities and his respiratory conditions, including sleep apnea, asbestosis, and neoplasms of the respiratory system. The VA is instructed to obtain additional medical opinions addressing these issues.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions are granted, with hypertension being granted under the PACT Act presumption of herbicide exposure. Other issues remain pending.

The Veteran's low back disability was rated at 40 percent from October 2, 2020 through November 30, 2021. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to lack of unfavorable ankylosis or incapacitating episodes.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a thoracolumbar spine disability as secondary to his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities. The Board finds that the most probative evidence of record does not support this claim.,The Veteran also seeks service connection for OSA as secondary to his service-connected migraine headaches. The VA examiner is requested to provide an opinion on whether the Veteran's service-connected migraines aggravated his OSA beyond its natural progression.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for lesions on the left and right thighs, as well as sleep apnea syndrome. The VA is instructed to obtain medical records and conduct examinations to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of a VA examination assessing the current nature and etiology of the Veteran's sleep apnea. The claim is reopened based on new evidence, but further evaluation is needed.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD, service connection for OSA, and TDIU were denied. The decision did not address the service connection claim due to lack of merit.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development and opinion regarding service connection for sleep apnea, back condition, and right ankle condition.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for OSA, finding that his current sleep disorder is a result of his service-connected low back disability and the medications he takes to treat it.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's service connection claim for obstructive sleep apnea should be remanded due to insufficient medical opinion regarding aggravation by a service-connected condition.

The Board has restored service connection for sleep apnea and rhinitis, finding that the original decisions were not clearly erroneous.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and entitlement to TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The claims are being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and an addendum VA medical opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's sleep apnea.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is related to his active-duty service and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.