Sleep apnea decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's sleep apnea and its relationship to service, including aggravation of his service-connected conditions.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary for the Veteran's claims of entitlement to increased ratings for iron deficiency anemia and service connection for sleep apnea, as well as his TDIU claim. The Veteran will be scheduled for VA examinations to address these issues.

The Veteran's claim for a 50 percent rating for his service-connected sleep apnea is granted, with an effective date of March 23, 2016.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for testicular atrophy, urinary incontinence, right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, and erectile dysfunction (ED) due to conflicting medical evidence regarding their onset and progression.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to incomplete paralysis of various nerves associated with his service-connected lumbar spine disability. The issues include left lower extremity radiculopathy, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between his current condition and his military service.

The Board has determined that the VA examination conducted in August 2022 did not provide a sufficient opinion regarding whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is related to his military service, particularly given his exposure to herbicide agents. The case is being remanded for another examination and an updated medical opinion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for a VA opinion to determine if his OSA is caused or aggravated by his service-connected psychiatric disorder and medications, as well as whether his obesity is a substantial factor in causing or aggravating his OSA.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for sleep apnea, finding that it is secondary to his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has received a withdrawal request from the appellant, and thus the appeal is dismissed.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for obstructive sleep apnea, migraines, right elbow condition, lower back condition, and right knee condition due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The VA will need to provide additional examinations and obtain further medical opinions.

The Veteran has withdrawn their appeals for increased ratings for lumbosacral strain and a TDIU, which were previously pending at the Board of Veterans' Appeals. The appeal is dismissed as a result.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, including as secondary to his service-connected PTSD. The evidence did not support a finding that the Veteran's sleep apnea was related to military service or a service-connected condition.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected depressive disorder, but denied service connection for cervical spine and low back conditions. The claims of service connection for coronary artery disease (CAD) and hypertension are remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is related to service or secondary to his diabetes mellitus type II.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that there is not a causal relationship between his current condition and his military service.

The Veteran's claim for a Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and development of records.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is granted service connection, with effective dates prior to October 31, 2012.,Obstructive sleep apnea is found to be secondary to the Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's IBS was granted service connection as a qualifying chronic disability due to active duty in the Southwest Asia theater of operations during the Persian Gulf War. The rating assigned is 10% for frequent episodes of bowel disturbance with abdominal distress.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for sleep apnea, including as secondary to PTSD, a back disability, and/or right lower extremity radiculopathy. The TDIU claim is also remanded.