Sleep apnea decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and insomnia due to a lack of a VA examination. The Veteran asserts that his sleep disorders began during military training, but there is no evidence linking these conditions directly to his active duty.

The Veteran's service connection claims for obstructive sleep apnea and a heart disability (arrhythmias) are granted. The claim for increased rating of hypertension is denied, as the evidence does not show diastolic or systolic blood pressure readings that meet the criteria for a compensable rating. The claim for increased rating of bilateral hearing loss is also denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and erectile dysfunction, finding that these conditions are not proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of all claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected bipolar disorder with PTSD, and related alcohol abuse, contributed to his death. The decision grants service connection for cause of death.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is found to be caused by his service-connected PTSD, and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), finding that it is related to his service-connected psychiatric disorder. The decision also reopened the previously denied claim.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is secondary to his service-connected PTSD with mood disorder not otherwise specified.

The Veteran's PTSD and depression are granted service connection, but his sleep apnea is denied.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and left elbow strain were denied as not related to service. The lumbosacral strain was also denied, but the claim for depression and anxiety disorders is being remanded.,Service connection for depression and anxiety disorders remains pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as it did not have its inception during his active duty and is not otherwise causally related to an in-service injury or disease, nor is it caused or aggravated by a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings are remanded due to procedural errors in obtaining relevant medical records and conducting examinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of OSA, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between his current condition and his active duty.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is rated at 50 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,The Veteran's left ankle status post avulsion fracture is currently rated at 10 percent and does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,The Veteran's right hip limitation of flexion is currently rated at 10 percent and does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,The Veteran's right hip limitation of extension is currently rated at 10 percent and does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,The Veteran's right hip limitation of abduction, adduction, and rotation is currently denied as compensable.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for earlier effective dates for the grants of service connection for sleep apnea, fatigue with weakness as due to undiagnosed illness, posttraumatic stress disorder and moderate recurrent major depressive disorder, and left foot hallux valgus.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as service-connected due to in-service exposure to herbicide agents. The claims for PTSD, sleep apnea, TBI, right foot disability, left foot disability, onychomycosis of the right great toe, tinea unguium of the left great toe and ingrown toenail of the left hallux, dental disability for compensation purposes, and vitamin D deficiency are denied as not service-connected.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to a duty-to-assist error. The Board needs to obtain an addendum opinion regarding whether the Veteran's sleep apnea was caused or aggravated by his service-connected major depressive disorder.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for obstructive sleep apnea and loss of sense of smell with bleeding, to include due to allergic rhinitis, as there were errors in the pre-decisional duty to assist. The Veteran is required to be provided VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD has rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since December 3, 2012. A total disability rating for compensation due to service-connected disabilities on an extraschedular basis is granted as of November 3, 2017.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for sleep apnea and gastrointestinal disability due to incomplete VA examinations from September 2013 to present, and a need to obtain additional treatment records.