Sleep apnea decisions — 2023

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, finding that there is no evidence linking his current condition to his active duty service or to his service-connected PTSD. The decision also found that the Veteran's symptoms are not related to his sleep apnea.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's hypertension is secondary to his service-connected bipolar disorder and any medications used to treat it. The examiner should consider the side effects of Lamotrigine prescribed for bipolar disorder.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including lymphoma at multiple sites, liver disability, bilateral hip disability, hepatitis B, acid reflux, and diabetes mellitus. The appeal is not granted as new and material evidence was not received to reopen the claim of service connection for a lumbosacral spine disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions regarding service connection for sleep apnea, which is a condition that may be related to service-connected upper respiratory infection. The examiner needs to provide an opinion on whether the Veteran's sleep apnea began during service or is otherwise causally related to it.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected. The issues of service connection for degenerative arthritis and spinal stenosis, lumbosacral spine, with left lower extremity radiculopathy and a right ankle injury are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development and consideration of all evidence received since the last Statement of the Case.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is found to have started during his military service and granted as direct service connection.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion and potential PACT Act exposure considerations. The Veteran's service connection claim for obstructive sleep apnea, related to Gulf War exposures, is being reviewed again.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further action due to lack of substantial compliance with previous requests for medical records and examination.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the remaining issues. The Veteran's claims for right and left arm/hand conditions, lumbar spine condition, left knee condition, right knee condition, sleep apnea, and anemia are now before the RO for further review.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for his front hairline surgical scar was denied. The Veteran's claim for service connection for psoriasis, claimed as secondary to hepatitis C is granted.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and traumatic brain injury are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection of sleep apnea and granted it, finding that the Veteran's PTSD and sinusitis aggravate his sleep apnea beyond its natural progression.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep difficulty, including sleep apnea and insomnia, finding that there is no evidence of a current disability related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder, including depressive disorder. The decision is based on evidence in relative equipoise concerning whether OSA is caused and/or aggravated by his service-connected condition.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability and denied compensable ratings for deviated nasal septum with allergic rhinitis, as well as separate compensable ratings for allergic rhinitis. The case was remanded for further development.

The Veteran's service connection claims for residuals of mandible surgery and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) have been granted. The Board found that the Veteran's current dental disability is related to his in-service oral surgery, and his OSA is related to his in-service surgical procedure.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient information regarding the relationship between the Veteran's service-connected PTSD and her sleep apnea, including whether obesity is a substantial factor in causing or aggravating her sleep apnea.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions and failure to comply with previous remand instructions. The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, including as secondary to PTSD, is now pending again.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the claims for sleep apnea and syncope, including loss of consciousness. As a result, these issues are dismissed.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with arthritis and degenerative disc disease was granted a rating of 20 percent from January 29, 2014 to October 31, 2019. The case is remanded for an examination regarding his hepatitis C.