Sleep apnea decisions — 2023

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

The Veteran's OSA and bilateral hearing loss were not shown to be incurred or aggravated by service, nor are they linked to a presumptive exposure basis. The Board denied service connection for these conditions as the evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a heart disability and obstructive sleep apnea due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's service connection claims for pseudofolliculitis barbae, sleep apnea secondary to allergic rhinitis, and bilateral pes planus have been granted. The claim for glaucoma is remanded due to lack of definitive evidence.,Service connection has been established for bilateral plantar fasciitis as it is considered secondary to service-connected bilateral pes planus.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, a neck condition, and peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity due to incomplete development.

The Board has remanded multiple issues for further development, including service connection claims for various conditions such as diabetes, sleep apnea, heart disease, and foot disabilities. The Veteran's STRs are unavailable, which may affect the adjudication of these claims.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, left hand numbness including carpal tunnel syndrome, and right hand numbness including carpal tunnel syndrome due to deficiencies in obtaining an adequate examination and opinion. The Veteran was exposed to dust and fire while deployed to Korea during his military service.

Bell's palsy with right eye ptosis and sleep apnea service connection claims have been granted.,Bilateral hearing loss and hyperlipidemia service connection claims have not met the criteria for reopening.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The issues include sleep apnea, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and panic/anxiety disorder), a low back disability, a left knee disability, a left shoulder/arm disability, bilateral plantar fasciitis, and bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is being remanded for further evaluation due to inadequate medical opinion and consideration of all evidence, including his National Guard service.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and need for a new opinion on causation between PTSD and OSA.

The Veteran's petition to reopen her claim of service connection for sleep apnea was denied. The Board found that the May 2014 decision denying this claim is final, and new and material evidence has not been submitted.,Service connection for a lumbar spine disability, headaches, insomnia, and obesity were also denied as there was no established link to active service.

The Veteran's claim for a rating of 40 percent for coccydynia with lumbosacral arthritis is granted, effective from January 19, 2014 to June 9, 2022. The issue of service connection for right lower extremity radiculopathy and left lower extremity radiculopathy remains pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine disorder, diagnosed as lumbosacral strain, is related to his active service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the cases of hypertension, respiratory disorder (COPD), and obstructive sleep apnea for further development to obtain medical opinions addressing their etiology.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected back, neck and right upper extremity radiculopathy disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional development including VA examinations.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as stress attacks), hypertension, and diabetes mellitus, type II. The Board found that there is no evidence to support a causal relationship between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's left knee strain status post-surgery, acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD), bilateral pes planus, right Achilles' tendonitis, and sleep apnea have been granted service connection. The cervical spine disability has not been established as related to active service.

The Board has granted the petition to reopen the previously denied claim of entitlement to service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and has granted entitlement to service connection for this condition. The claims for asthma and left hip disability are remanded due to insufficient medical opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea on a secondary basis to the Veteran's service-connected tinnitus, as it is determined that his chronic sleep impairment (a symptom of his service-connected mental health disability) contributed to his obesity and thus caused his sleep apnea.