Sleep apnea decisions — 2024

The Board dismissed all claims for service connection, including those for PTSD, head injury, left hand strain, left knee strain, lumbosacral strain, left thumb fracture, bilateral pes planus, plantar fasciitis, right hand strain, and right knee strain. The claim for bilateral hearing loss was denied.

The claims for a change in the character of discharge and compensation for lumbosacral strain and PTSD are remanded due to an error in notifying the appellant about the necessary steps.

The Board granted readjudication of the claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea based on new and relevant evidence, but remanded the issue of entitlement to service connection for OSA as secondary to service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating or service connection for any of the conditions appealed.

The Board granted service connection for OSA, finding that it is proximately due to or aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for pneumonia, sleep apnea, bilateral knee condition, and left elbow condition are remanded due to the need for further development regarding potential exposure-based service connection.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for unspecified trauma and stressor-related disorder and obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to it was dismissed due to a written request to withdraw the appeal.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error, and will require a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's sleep apnea is related to his service or any other service-connected conditions.

The Board remands the claim for service connection of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as secondary to tinnitus due to an inadequate medical opinion.

The Board has decided to remand the cases due to a duty to assist error, specifically regarding the Veteran's private medical records and the adequacy of the August 2018 VA addendum opinion.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability has been granted. The appeal regarding OSA was remanded.,New evidence received since the last rating decision raised reasonable possibility of substantiating claims for both conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for left shoulder strain with torn rotator cuff and lumbosacral strain with intervertebral disc syndrome, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are related to his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty-to-assist error in failing to provide a VA opinion regarding the etiology of sleep apnea and whether service-connected migraine headaches caused or aggravated it. The Veteran's spouse reported snoring and whistling during active service, which may be relevant to his current claim.

The Veteran's appeals for PTSD, tinnitus, lumbar strain, sleep apnea, cervical strain, upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, adjustment disorder, and a left elbow scar were dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing his appeals. The claims for increased ratings of bilateral cubital tunnel syndrome are denied as the Veteran failed to attend scheduled VA examinations.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for OSA due to new and relevant evidence submitted by the Veteran, but has decided to remand the case for further consideration.

The Veteran's service connection claim for obstructive sleep apnea was granted. The claims for sinusitis and rhinitis were denied.,Obstructive sleep apnea is considered incurred during active military service.

The Veteran's initial compensable evaluation for hypothyroidism with autoimmune thyroiditis is denied, and the Board finds a duty to assist error in not obtaining a sleep study for his service connection claim for sleep apnea. The case is remanded for further action.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a recurrent sleep disability, including obstructive sleep apnea, is being remanded due to incomplete service records and the need for further verification of his military service.

The Board has determined that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's OSA is related to his service-connected PTSD, and thus grants service connection for OSA secondary to PTSD.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected disabilities, including obesity caused by his service-connected conditions.