Sleep apnea decisions — 2023

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as due to conceded herbicide exposure. The issues of service connection for GERD and sleep apnea are remanded.

The appeal concerning service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is dismissed. The Veteran's left ankle sprain, hypertension, headaches, gastritis, and thyroid condition are all granted with the appropriate ratings.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding the claims of service connection for respiratory disorder and sleep apnea.

The Board has determined that the VA examination did not provide an adequate opinion regarding whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is secondary to his service-connected respiratory disabilities, and thus remands for a new examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus was granted. The claims for left knee condition, right knee condition, and sleep apnea were denied.,The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee condition and sleep apnea.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and service connection are dismissed. The Board remanded several issues including the rating of AML, hemochromatosis, and left buttocks scar.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea, finding that it began during his active duty and is related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disorder, to include as secondary to service-connected left varicocele, due to incomplete records and need for clarification of etiology. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Veteran's SMC claim for aid and attendance is granted. The diabetes rating appeal is remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for increased ratings of various conditions, including tinnitus, OSA, rhinitis, and migraine headaches. Service connection was granted for pancreatic cancer presumptively related to burn pit exposure under the PACT Act.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's hypertension is related to service, specifically his service-connected obstructive sleep apnea. The examiner must provide a thorough rationale for their conclusions.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's OSA is secondary to his service-connected MDD and/or medications, or aggravated by it. The VA will obtain additional opinions on these issues.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient opinions regarding whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is aggravated by his service-connected COPD. The case will be returned for further development and an addendum opinion from a clinician.

The Veteran's OSA was found to have begun during his active military service and continued thereafter, meeting the criteria for service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for diabetes, neuropathy, psoriatic arthritis, anxiety, right shoulder condition, and sleep apnea due to duty-to-assist errors. The RO is instructed to obtain a VA examination and medical opinion regarding possible exposure to chemicals during service.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's sleep apnea is related to service and granted service connection. The heart disability issue, which may be related to hypertension, needs further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is caused or aggravated by her service-connected PTSD with major depressive disorder.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea was reopened due to new and material evidence submitted in July 2017. The effective date of the award is set at March 15, 2017.

The Board has dismissed the appeals of the Veteran's claims for service connection due to his death.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea likely began during his military service and granted service connection for this condition.