Sleep apnea decisions — 2023

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain is currently rated at 10 percent, but the Board found that it does not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating based on the degree of forward flexion.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development and examination, including obtaining VA treatment records from November 2017 to November 2018 and from November 2022 to present. The Veteran's service connection claim for OSA is also being remanded.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for sleep apnea and right knee condition, resulting in the dismissal of these claims.

The Veteran's service-connected OSA and PTSD have been granted, with the PTSD receiving a disability rating of 100% effective October 25, 2021.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, lumbar spine condition, and sleep apnea. The Veteran will need to undergo new VA examinations to determine the current severity of his bilateral hearing loss without his hearing aids, assess the nature and etiology of his lumbar spine condition, and obtain a medical opinion regarding the relationship between his sleep apnea and service-connected conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's OSA, left shoulder and low back disabilities are related to his service. As a result, the claims for these conditions have been granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep disorder, lumbar spine strain, radiculopathy of the lower extremities, left and right knee strains, migraine headaches, other residuals of TBI, and other specified trauma and/or stressor-related disorder may be related to his service in Southwest Asia or secondary to a service-connected disability. The Board has also noted that the Veteran's employment history needs to be verified for the TDIU claim.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination to determine if any current psychiatric disorders are related to service. The original decision denied service connection for sleep apnea and remanded issues of depression and anxiety.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including OSA, lumbar degenerative disc disease, carpal tunnel syndrome, and anxiety disorder, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and experience.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and tinnitus, finding that there is a link between his current conditions and his active duty service.

The Veteran's hypertension is related to in-service exposure to tactical herbicide agent(s). Service connection for this condition is granted.,Service connection for sleep apnea, claimed as secondary to service-connected PTSD, is remanded due to inadequate VA examination and the need for a new one.

The Board has determined that the AOJ's decision on appeal was flawed due to an inadequate medical opinion regarding whether sleep apnea is caused or aggravated by service-connected PTSD. The case is being remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's Parkinson's disease, cognitive disorder, constipation, anosmia, urinary disorders, erectile dysfunction, neurological disorders of the extremities, orthostatic hypotension, and sleep disorder are all granted as related to service exposure at Camp Lejeune.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The examiner is asked to provide opinions on whether OSA was incurred in service, caused by or related to PTSD and TBI, and aggravated by these conditions. Additionally, the PACT Act requires a medical examination for toxic exposure risk activities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection on four issues (left knee condition, high blood pressure, right ankle condition, and sleep apnea) are being remanded due to pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of a VA examination and insufficient evidence to decide the claim. The Veteran's OSA is being evaluated for possible secondary service connection with his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not meet the criteria for eligibility for specially adapted housing (SAH) or a special home adaptation (SHA) grant due to insufficient anatomical loss, blindness, burns, or other qualifying disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is related to his service, specifically a nasal reconstructive surgery he underwent during active duty.

Your claims for service connection have been dismissed as the appeals were untimely filed.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, sciatica of the left and right lower extremities, and lumbosacral strain due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran. The claims are being remanded because there is a possibility that the Veteran was exposed to toxic exposure risk activities during her military service.