Sleep apnea decisions — 2024

The Board has dismissed all issues of service connection due to the appellant's withdrawal of the appeal.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain is not related to his service-connected right patellar fracture and bilateral plantar fasciitis with flat foot conditions.,The Veteran's vertigo is not related to his service-connected post-concussive syndrome.

The Veteran's sleep apnea was first noted during service, and the Board has found a causal link between his in-service symptoms and his current diagnosis. Service connection for sleep apnea is granted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected back disability and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for the Veteran's back disability, as his range of motion was limited to at worst 60 degrees during flare-ups. For his bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, there is no evidence of incapacitating episodes or other factors warranting higher ratings.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected major depressive disorder with alcohol use disorder, finding that the evidence supports a link between these conditions.

The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that the evidence supports a causal relationship between the condition and the Veteran's active-duty service.

The Board remands the claim for service connection of sleep apnea as secondary to service-connected disabilities due to a duty to assist error in previous medical opinions.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is found to be a but-for cause of his obstructive sleep apnea, and thus service connection for OSA as secondary to this condition is granted.

The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected GERD and insomnia disorder.

The Board granted readjudication of the previously denied claim for service connection for bilateral dry eye syndrome but denied service connection for acid reflux disorder, sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, and PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the assignment of a 40 percent rating for his lumbar spine disability is denied.,The Veteran's claim for a separate rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current sleep apnea is at least as likely as not related to service or a service-connected disability, and thus grants service connection for sleep apnea.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including major depressive disorder, obstructive sleep apnea, degenerative joint and disc disease of the low back, left knee osteochondroma, right knee degenerative joint disease, hypertension, folliculitis, chronic maxillary sinusitis, and migraine headaches, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since May 2021. The Board has granted a TDIU based on this evidence.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea to obtain a VA examination and medical opinion regarding its etiology, particularly in relation to conceded toxic exposure during active service.

The Board denied service connection for various disorders, including right knee, left knee, left hip, low back, costochondritis, OSA, and neck disorder, as there was no evidence of a current disability or a nexus to service.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating of PTSD was granted, and service connection for OSA was also granted. The effective date is not specified.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions and a need for further examination regarding service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) secondary to asthma. The Veteran's OSA is being examined in relation to his service-connected asthma, toxic exposure risk activities, and other relevant evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is found to have aggravated his sleep apnea, and the Board grants secondary service connection for sleep apnea.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate VA examination and a need for an adequate opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as caused or aggravated by his service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea, finding that it is secondary to his service-connected post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).