Sleep apnea decisions — 2023

The Board has determined that further development is necessary to address the Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and secondary service connection to hypertension, back, and diabetes mellitus via obesity. The case is being remanded to obtain a new etiological opinion.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability during or immediately following service and insufficient medical evidence to link the current condition to service.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, atrial fibrillation, and GERD. The other issues on appeal have been denied.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is not caused by or aggravated by his service-connected bipolar disorder. The case must be remanded for an addendum opinion addressing both causation and aggravation.

The Board has determined that the evidence is in equipoise regarding whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea was incurred during active duty, and thus service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of the lumbosacral spine and tinnitus have been withdrawn.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, pes planus, and bunions of the feet were denied due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for low back pain, hypertension, sleep apnea, and bilateral sensitive feet due to additional development being required.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's symptoms began during his military service and have continued since then.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of compliance with prior remand directives regarding retrospective VA opinions on additional loss of motion during flare-ups and after repeated use over time for lumbosacral strain.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including right hip osteoarthritis, left knee degenerative joint disease, left knee instability, and right knee osteoarthritis, render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted entitlement to a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection are being remanded due to the need for a DRO hearing.

The Veteran's service records show a diagnosis of OSA in June 2018. The Board has ordered additional medical examination and opinion to determine if the condition is related to his military service.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection for sleep apnea, high blood pressure, and heart problems. The issues of service connection for a psychiatric disability, erectile dysfunction, and low back disability are remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient examination regarding the etiology of the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and its relationship to his service-connected PTSD, as well as whether obesity played a role in causing or aggravating OSA.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, finding that he does not have a current disability and therefore cannot establish service connection.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to address the sufficiency of the VA examination and to obtain an addendum opinion regarding whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is proximately due to or the result of his service-connected gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

The Board has remanded the claims for low back disability, skin disability (tinea corpus), and sleep apnea due to potential service connection issues. The Veteran's assertions regarding in-service events and exposure are considered, along with VA treatment records.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for various conditions have been dismissed due to withdrawal of the claims.,Service connection has not been established for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's sleep apnea and his service-connected postoperative deviated nasal septum with deformity, as well as his service-connected asthma. The Veteran is also seeking service connection for sleep apnea secondary to these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is related to his active service, including as secondary to asthma and COPD. The decision grants service connection for this condition.