Sleep apnea decisions — 2023

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea, irritable bowel syndrome, and gastroesophageal reflux disease are all found to be related to his service-connected PTSD.,Service connection for a neurological issue manifested by dizziness is granted as it is considered an undiagnosed Gulf War illness.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and unspecified anxiety is denied. The Board also finds that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea may be related to his service-connected depressive disorder, but more evidence is needed to determine this.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), finding that her symptoms developed during active duty and are related to her service-connected PTSD. The decision also reopened a previously denied claim.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, lumbosacral strain, and bilateral foot conditions, precluded him from securing and following substantially gainful employment for which his education and occupational experience would have otherwise qualified him during the period from October 21, 2015 through October 10, 2018.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, to include as secondary to PTSD, was dismissed due to the timely filing of a VA Form 9 and the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeal under the modernized review system.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed as he withdrew his claims for sleep apnea and alopecia. His claim for chronic sinusitis was granted with a 50% rating, which is the maximum available. The appeals for right foot metatarsalgia, erectile dysfunction, TBI, headaches (migraines), facial scarring of the left eyebrow, and sebaceous cyst removal scar were denied. The appeal for inguinal hernia and hypertension was also dismissed.

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

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for chronic cervical strain, lumbosacral strain, and follicular hyperpigmentosis due to additional development being needed. The AOJ is required to obtain VA treatment records, complete a VA Form 21-4142 from the Veteran, and arrange for orthopedic examinations of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea is reopened, and the case is remanded to obtain a VA examination and medical opinions regarding his cervical spine disability, bilateral knee disabilities, and lumbar radiculopathy.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's conditions are the result of military service.,Service connection is established for hypertension due to its aggravation by service. Service connection is also established for sleep apnea as a direct result of service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's OSA manifested during service or is related to service. The AOJ must obtain a new opinion from an appropriate clinician.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and adjudication, including a VA examination to determine if the Veteran has a male reproductive disability related to his service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development and opinion regarding service connection for sleep apnea, including whether it is related to GERD or a combination of service-connected disabilities. The TDIU claim prior to December 26, 2019, remains remanded due to incomplete records.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for OSA, CFS, and memory loss due to insufficient medical opinions addressing the Veteran's lay statements regarding symptom onset and continuity. The case will be returned for further development.

The Board has decided that the service connection for OSA should be remanded due to insufficient information regarding whether PTSD caused or aggravated obesity, which in turn may have contributed to OSA.

The Board has ordered the VA to obtain all relevant treatment records from 1999 to present, including those from Baltimore VAMC in 1999. The case is remanded due to incomplete record retrieval.

The Board has determined that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea was caused or aggravated by his service-connected status post left tripod fracture and vasomotor rhinitis, thus granting the claim for service connection.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including a heart disability and secondary conditions related to those disabilities, need further review due to insufficient evidence in some cases.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for right great toe onychomycosis and a back disability, finding that these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for muscle and joint pain, PTSD, pulmonary lung nodule, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), lumbosacral strain and arthritis, sciatica, depressive disorder with anxious distress, and bruxism have all been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of current disabilities related to service or an undiagnosed illness.