Sleep apnea decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete service medical records. The Veteran's active duty and Army Reserve service are acknowledged, but further efforts must be made to obtain his complete service medical records.

The Veteran's appeals to reopen service connection for right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, sleep apnea, and gout have been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of these claims.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for lumbosacral IVDS was denied, but she received a separate 10% rating for left lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy associated with IVDS effective from May 17, 2017.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to service-connected unspecified depressive disorder with anxious distress. The case is remanded for further examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's headaches.

The Board dismissed the appeals due to the Veteran's death, and no final decision can be made.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected anxiety disorder with depression and alcohol dependence.

The Veteran's low back disability was granted an initial rating of 10 percent from October 29, 2014 to January 3, 2018. Service connection for sleep apnea and left hip disability were denied. The case is remanded for further evaluation.

The Board denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and bilateral pes planus, finding that the evidence did not support a link to service or any service-connected disability.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and obstructive sleep apnea on a secondary basis to the Veteran's service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's symptoms began during his active duty in Vietnam.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease, degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine with DDD and cervical spondylosis, and left shoulder strain with impingement syndrome.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, posttraumatic stress disorder, and sleep apnea due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea had its onset during his active service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is related to his active-duty service and grants entitlement to service connection.

The Board has denied service connection for TMJ, claimed as TMD, due to lack of a current diagnosis. Service connection for OSA is granted based on direct evidence showing the condition was present during active duty.

The Veteran's request to withdraw his appeal for PTSD ratings has been granted. The case of service connection for sleep apnea is remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The Board has denied service connection for sleep apnea, hypertension, and a bilateral leg disorder as there is no persuasive evidence that these conditions began during active service or are otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Board has granted service connection for right foot, cervical spine, and lumbar spine disabilities. Service connection for sleep apnea was withdrawn by the appellant.

The Veteran's claim for earlier effective dates for cervical strain, left upper extremity radiculopathy, right upper extremity radiculopathy, lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis and IVDS, left lower extremity radiculopathy (femoral nerve), and right lower extremity radiculopathy (femoral nerve) was denied. The effective dates for these conditions were not earlier than January 30, 2013.,The Veteran's claim for higher ratings for cervical strain with degenerative arthritis and IVDS, left upper extremity radiculopathy, right upper extremity radiculopathy, lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis and IVDS, left lower extremity radiculopathy (femoral nerve), and right lower extremity radiculopathy (femoral nerve) was also denied.

The Board has remanded the case for a clarification of the etiology of the Veteran's sleep apnea. The TDIU claim from February 6, 2018 is dismissed due to the Veteran being in receipt of a combined 100% schedular rating.