Sleep apnea decisions — 2023

The Veteran's claim for service connection for breathing issues, which he claims is secondary to his acquired psychiatric condition (stress with anxiety with depression, sleeping problems and insomnia), has been denied. His increased rating claim for IVDS, disc herniation L3-L4, L4-L5, lumbosacral spine, rated at 40 percent, remains unchanged.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, finding that his condition had its onset during active duty.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied. The Veteran's left foot disability is granted a 10 percent evaluation, subject to regulations governing payment of monetary awards. Other claims are remanded.

The Veteran's service connection claims for headaches, sleep apnea, and a separate right knee condition are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for a VA examination and medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea and his service in Iraq, including exposure to burn pits.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, finding that his current disability is etiologically related to his in-service difficulty sleeping.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to outstanding VA and private treatment records, as well as incomplete service treatment records. The Veteran's sleep apnea condition will need further evaluation and consideration.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea disability is caused and aggravated by his service-connected PTSD, granting service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea did not begin during military service and is not related to his time in service. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and remanded it for further development, including an examination to determine if his condition is related to toxic exposure during service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his bilateral knee disabilities and service connection for sleep apnea are remanded. The SMC claim is also remanded due to the Veteran's reported loss of use of a creative organ.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, sinus problems, left eye disability, and thoracolumbar spine disability have been denied as there is no evidence of a relationship between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's sleep apnea. The case is being sent back for further examination and opinion.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for increased evaluation of bronchial asthma, service connection for flat feet disability, left ankle disability, plantar fasciitis, and obstructive sleep apnea due to incomplete records and need for updated examinations.

The Board has remanded the case due to failure to obtain a medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's OSA. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are not at issue in this appeal.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and effective dates have been granted. Service connection is established for tinnitus, lumbosacral strain, residual (nerve damage) s/p fracture right thumb, radiculopathy (sciatic nerve) left lower extremity, and radiculopathy (sciatic nerve) right lower extremity.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate opinion regarding the onset and relationship of sleep apnea to service. The Veteran's lay statements, STRs, and post-service treatment records need to be considered by a VA examiner.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA medical opinion and the need for a TERA-specific opinion. The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is presumed related to his service, but the examiner did not consider all of his toxic exposures during both deployment periods.

The Veteran's hearing loss of the right ear is currently rated as noncompensable, and there is no indication that it has worsened since the last rating decision.,The Veteran's GERD is currently rated at 10 percent. The Board finds remand necessary to determine if his sleep apnea is related to his GERD or another condition.