Sleep apnea decisions — 2023

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbar spine disability. The claims of entitlement to increased ratings for various disabilities, including OSA, CAD, diabetes mellitus, diabetic peripheral neuropathy, and TDIU prior to March 2, 2018, are remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating are remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's OSA may be related to service-connected GERD with hiatal hernia and gastritis, but not to PTSD. The Board also finds that further medical opinion is needed regarding whether the OSA is caused or aggravated by a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and anxiety are remanded due to the need for medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's spine and sciatic nerve radiculopathy conditions are remanded for further evaluation due to the need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 20 percent prior to December 16, 2014, and at 40 percent thereafter. The appeal for higher ratings has been denied.

The Veteran's chronic rhinosinusitis, s/p septoplasty was characterized by headaches and purulent discharge. A rating greater than 30 percent for this condition is denied.,Obstructive sleep apnea required the use of a CPAP machine but did not meet criteria for higher ratings.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's condition began during his active duty service and is related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions regarding whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is secondary to his service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The examiner must consider the Veteran's statements about PTSD interfering with OSA treatment and apply the correct standard for aggravation of a nonservice connected disability by a service-connected disability, including PTSD and heart disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient opinions regarding obesity, right knee condition, right shoulder condition, and low back condition. The Veteran's representative asserts that his asthma causes or aggravates these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that there is no current diagnosis of this condition and that the evidence does not support a link to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's current condition is at least as likely as not related to his military service. The decision affords the Veteran the benefit of doubt in this matter.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and examination, including a VA mental health examination to address the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition, higher initial rating for bronchial asthma, earlier effective date for obstructive sleep apnea, and whether ratings for both conditions should be combined.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, hypertensive vascular disease, prostate cancer, cervical spine disorder (arthritis), and PTSD have been dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing his appeals.,The Veteran's claim for secondary service connection for obstructive sleep apnea has been granted.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's sleep apnea, finding that it is likely to have begun during his active duty service.

The Veteran's claim for a higher initial disability rating for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis was denied. The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression, was also denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lung disorder (asbestosis) and sleep disorder (sleep apnea), due to insufficient evidence in the record.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and an inadequate VA examination. The Veteran's service connection claim for sleep apnea is pending.

The Board denied service connection for anxiety disorder and sleep apnea, but granted service connection for degenerative disc disease. The Veteran's back condition is related to an injury during a period of INACDUTRA.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of lumbosacral strain, left hand/thumb condition, and left hip condition due to the Veteran's death.