Sleep apnea decisions — 2023

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of sinus polyps and obstructive sleep apnea, finding that the conditions began during active service and are related to it.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to new evidence submitted, and requests additional VA medical opinions regarding the relationship between his current back condition and bilateral knee conditions and his service-connected bilateral callouses and hallux valgus disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for cervical spine and lumbosacral spine disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient development and need for an additional medical opinion regarding the Veteran's service connection claim for obstructive sleep apnea.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for an increased rating for a lumbosacral strain (lumbar disability) before the Board could make a decision.

The Board has remanded the case for further examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's pulmonary disability, including whether it is related to his service-connected psychiatric disorder. Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea will be granted.

The Board has denied an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and has remanded the claims of service connection for COPD, OSA, and liver cancer due to asbestos exposure.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examination and further development is required.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a new examination.

The Board has remanded the cases due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's sleep apnea and right knee disability. Additional medical opinions are needed to determine if these conditions are related to service-connected disabilities or obesity.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea began during service and continued after separation, granting service connection for this condition.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, obstructive sleep apnea, and hypertension. Additional development is needed as there are outstanding VA treatment records that have not been obtained.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for obstructive sleep disorder and multiple sclerosis due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated treatment records and an addendum VA opinion to address whether the Veteran's sleep apnea had an onset during service and if it is aggravated by his PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, and his claim for TDIU is therefore denied.

The Veteran is granted a TDIU based on his service-connected PTSD, which also satisfies the requirement for SMC due to his combined disability rating of 90 percent. The issue of service connection for sleep apnea was previously granted.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for left ear sensorineural hearing loss is denied.,The Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 10 percent for status-post left maxillary sinusotomy with headaches and service connection for sleep apnea are remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to properly address the Veteran's claim for service connection of OSA, including considering in-service symptoms and exposure.

The Veteran's IBS is granted as presumptively related to his service in Southwest Asia. The left knee disability and obstructive sleep apnea are remanded for further development, including obtaining medical nexus opinions.

The Board has found that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of increased disability evaluations for lumbosacral spine strain and cervical spine strain, as well as her claim for a total rating based on individual employability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU). The Veteran will need to undergo VA examinations and provide any authorized medical records. If her TDIU claim is granted, it could significantly impact the outcome of her increased disability evaluation claims.