Sleep apnea decisions — 2023

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). The case will be returned for further development and consideration.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for sleep apnea is remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records and an addendum medical opinion.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for a retrospective medical opinion regarding the Veteran's lumbosacral spine disability from July 1, 2009, to April 22, 2022. The examiner is required to provide specific measurements of range of motion lost due to pain in both weight-bearing and non-weight-bearing positions.

The Veteran's lumbosacral spine disability is currently rated at 40 percent, effective February 20, 2016. The Board has granted an increased evaluation for the entire period on appeal and also granted TDIU and DEA benefits.

The Board has decided to remand the issue of service connection for sleep apnea due to a lack of sufficient information in the June 2019 VA examiner's opinion. The Veteran is seeking service connection for his current sleep apnea, which he claims was related to his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient opinion regarding whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is caused or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD.

Service connection for COPD is dismissed as the claim has been rendered moot by a subsequent grant of service connection. Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is granted.

The Veteran's daughter, S. G., has filed requests to substitute for the Veteran in her pending claims of service connection for chest pain, respiratory condition, sleep apnea, and PTSD. The AOJ is required to issue decisions on these substitution requests before the Board can proceed with the appeal.

The Veteran's service-connected obstructive sleep apnea and asthma are being remanded for further evaluation due to an inadequate VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbosacral strain as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right ankle strain with post traumatic degenerative joint disease.

The Board has vacated its previous decision denying service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to PTSD. The Board now grants this claim, finding that the Veteran's currently diagnosed obstructive sleep apnea was proximately caused by his obesity, which is due to his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is due to his service-connected sinusitis and PTSD, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition as secondary to those already service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of sleep apnea has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal prior to the decision being made.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient information regarding the Veteran's skin conditions and their relationship to service, particularly his conceded exposure to Agent Orange. The Veteran was not provided with a VA examination or opinion on this issue.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disorder and sleep apnea, finding that there is no evidence of a current disability or a relationship to service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including consideration of the Veteran's statements and medical treatment records regarding his thyroid disorder. The claims for both thyroid disorder and obstructive sleep apnea are denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type 2 (DM2) and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), both of which are secondary to service-connected disabilities. The Veteran contends that his OSA and DM2 began due to weight gain caused by his PTSD symptoms during active duty.

The Veteran's prostate cancer is presumed to be related to his in-service herbicide exposure. The claim for service connection for prostate cancer is granted.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate VA examination regarding the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea, which is claimed as secondary to his service-connected PTSD with alcohol use disorder. The examiner did not provide a definitive opinion on whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is caused by or aggravated by his PTSD.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, finding that there is no current diagnosis of sleep apnea and thus not meeting the criteria for service connection.