Sleep apnea decisions — 2023

The Veteran's service connection claim for recurrent lumbosacral strain is granted. The claims for right hip disability, left hip disability, esophageal disability (GERD), substance abuse disability, and Type II diabetes mellitus are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for right thumb/wrist joint pain, left thumb/wrist joint pain, and right elbow joint pain as incurred during the Veteran's Persian Gulf service. Service connection was denied for other conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, left knee disability, and right knee disability due to incorrect addresses of the Veteran's representative. Addendum opinions are required regarding whether these disabilities are related to in-service toxic exposure.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for sleep apnea, increased rating for PTSD, and TDIU due to new evidence added to the record.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for further development regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected PTSD caused his obesity, which in turn may have caused his sleep apnea.

The Board has remanded four issues related to service connection for COPD, an acquired psychiatric disability, sleep apnea, and onychomycosis of the feet. The VA examinations need to be supplemented with addendum opinions that address whether these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 20 percent since April 25, 2017. The Board has remanded the case for further development and rating considerations.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for PTSD is dismissed, and the issue of service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to PTSD is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for chronic fatigue syndrome and sleep apnea, related to his Persian Gulf service, have been reopened. The Board found new and material evidence that could reasonably substantiate the claims.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and failure to consider obesity as an intermediate step in determining service connection for obstructive sleep apnea.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and determining the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and development of evidence related to the Veteran's employability given his service-connected disabilities. The claim will be reconsidered after additional development.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for a sleep disorder, including sleep apnea, and for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for left knee osteoarthritis. The issues have been remanded due to inadequate opinions regarding secondary service connection.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea began during his active duty service. The Veteran testified that he had symptoms of disordered sleep in basic training, but a VA examination is needed to determine if this condition can be linked to his military service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, but has remanded it to determine if there is a relationship between the Veteran's sleep apnea and his service-connected depressive disorder.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, finding that there is no causal relationship between his current sleep apnea and his active service or service-connected PTSD.

The Board has granted service connection for dermatitis but remanded the issue of service connection for sleep apnea due to insufficient medical opinions.

The Veteran's claims have been dismissed due to withdrawal of appeals for a compensable rating for onychomycosis and reopening of previously denied claims. Service connection has been granted for right knee strain, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, and sleep apnea as secondary to service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with multilevel degenerative disc disease and L5-S1 spondylolisthesis and surgical fusion was granted an initial rating of 50 percent, but no higher. The issue of service connection for functional and neurological impairments as secondary to the lumbar spine disability is remanded.

The Board has ordered the case to be remanded due to insufficient opinions regarding direct service connection for sleep apnea and type II diabetes mellitus. The Veteran's claims are not related to any presumptive exposure basis.