Sleep apnea decisions — 2023

The Board has determined that the Veteran's appeal was erroneously docketed and requires a Statement of the Case (SOC) due to an improper form submission. The matter is remanded for issuance of the SOC.

The Veteran's claims for right trigger thumb disability, left trigger thumb disability, residuals of a right ankle injury, residuals of a right knee injury, sleep apnea, and bilateral flat foot disability have been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence.,These issues are being remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the claims for sleep apnea and chest pains due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran, and because of his status as a Persian Gulf veteran. The TDIU claim is also being remanded.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for updated VA treatment records and additional medical opinions regarding his sleep apnea, tinnitus, left knee disability, right shoulder disability, and nonservice-connected pension.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's sleep apnea. The Veteran's claim for service connection is now pending and will be reviewed with a new medical opinion.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for sleep apnea, finding that it had its onset in service and resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea, finding that his current diagnosis is due to in-service exposure to oil fire smoke and other toxins during his service in Southwest Asia.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's lumbar spine disability is related to his military service. The VA needs to obtain private treatment records and provide an updated opinion from a clinician.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining updated medical records and a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's sleep apnea is related to his active service or due to his service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee disorder, right knee disorder, cervical spine disability, and sleep apnea (secondary to service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine).,Service connection is also remanded for left upper extremity numbness and a left shoulder disability.

The Board has remanded the claim for further development and adjudication due to failure to comply with previous remand orders. The Veteran needs to undergo a VA examination to determine the current nature and severity of his service-connected lumbosacral sprain and degenerative arthritis.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for an increased rating for cervical spine strain, service connection for bilateral flat foot, and service connection for lumbosacral strain due to the need for additional examinations and opinions.

The Board has determined that the VA did not comply with its prior remand directives and has therefore ordered further development to determine if the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is service-connected, specifically whether it is proximately due or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD and panic disorder.

The Veteran requested withdrawal of his claims regarding whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen previously denied service connection claims for chronic fatigue syndrome, hypertension, and sleep apnea. The Board dismissed the appeal due to this request.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and COPD due to insufficient medical opinions addressing relevant theories of causation, including obesity as an intermediate step in causing sleep apnea. The VA must obtain additional medical opinions on these issues.

The Veteran's CVA and its residuals are not service-connected as there is no evidence of a causal relationship to his active service.,The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea did not manifest during active service, nor is it service-connected due to lack of evidence linking the condition to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for obstructive sleep apnea and restless leg syndrome, finding that a medical opinion is needed to determine if these conditions are related to service or secondary to his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for sleep apnea, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to his active duty service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for migraine headaches and OSA as secondary to PTSD due to insufficient evidence regarding the onset, relationship to service, and aggravation by a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and back conditions, rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted TDIU.