Sleep apnea decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating issues due to insufficient medical records. The case is also remanded for an addendum opinion on PTSD, a headache disability evaluation, and VA examinations for lumbosacral strain, DDD, Schamberg's disease, and hypertension.

The Veteran's current obstructive sleep apnea is determined to be caused by his exposure to burn pits during active duty service, and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder with alcohol use disorder is granted, effective January 14, 2015. The Board also grants an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, but denied service connection for hypertension.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, specifically whether it is related to military service or toxic exposure from burn pits. The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and medications are also under consideration.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is related to service, particularly his sinusitis and deviated septum.

The Veteran's current obstructive sleep apnea is found to have onset during active service and the Board grants direct service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for additional medical opinions regarding the onset of various conditions during or as a result of military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and rating of radiculopathy, as well as for migraines secondary to tinnitus. Additional evidence was added since the last decision in December 2019.

The Board has remanded the cases of low back disorder and obstructive sleep apnea for further development due to insufficient evidence in some areas.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral foot disorder, lower back disorder, and OSA have been granted. The Board found that the evidence established a link between these conditions and service.

The Veteran's claims for lumbar spine disability, obstructive sleep apnea, right hand disability, left hand disability, and hypertension were denied. The claim for lumbar spine disability was reopened but not granted. Service connection was granted for obstructive sleep apnea as aggravated by service-connected persistent depressive disorder with anxious distress.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's arthritis, back condition, RLS, right leg condition, and left leg condition are not service-connected as they did not manifest during active duty or within a presumptive period.,Service connection for myocardial infarction (heart condition) and artery conditions is also denied.

The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for hypertension, as it may be secondary to a service-connected heart disability. The RO should obtain an addendum VA medical opinion to determine if hypertension is proximately due to or aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected heart disability.

The Board has found that additional development is needed to determine if any of the Veteran's VA records were erroneously associated with another Veteran's claims file. The Board also finds that a new VA opinion is required to address the likely onset and etiology of the Veteran's diagnosed insomnia, as well as whether it is at least as likely as not related to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for sleep apnea due to concerns about the adequacy of a previous VA medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities caused or aggravated his sleep apnea.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are related to in-service noise exposure. His back disability is linked to his active service, as evidenced by a history of injuries sustained during service.,The Veteran's right and left ankle disabilities were aggravated by his service-connected right total knee replacement and/or back disability.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's hearing loss was not shown during service or within one year of separation, and there is no competent medical evidence linking his current hearing loss to service.,Service connection for OSA is denied as there is no evidence showing that the condition began in service or within a year after discharge. The Board found that the Veteran did not have OSA during service and there is no credible evidence connecting it to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied, and his claim for a higher rating was granted with an effective date of May 2, 2018.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability and sleep apnea due to inadequate medical opinions in previous VA examinations. The claims are being returned for further development.