Sleep apnea decisions — 2024

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including PTSD, diabetes mellitus, obstructive sleep apnea, valvular heart disease, peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity, fungal infection of the left toe, and bilateral hearing loss, have prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment since May 11, 2021. The Board has granted a TDIU effective as of that date.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea was dismissed because the Veteran filed a request for higher-level review before his initial appeal was adjudicated.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection of sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected asthma.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain has been granted a 40% disability rating effective October 26, 2024.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities have resulted in his inability to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, warranting a TDIU.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate medical opinions and further examination. The issues include OSA, RA, anosmia (loss of sense of smell), GERD, interstitial lung disease, and a large intestine disability.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that reasonable doubt should be resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for left and right knee disabilities, sleep apnea, and erectile dysfunction should be remanded due to procedural errors in obtaining relevant medical records and providing opinions on service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's heart murmur and obstructive sleep apnea may be related to service, but additional evidence is needed to make a determination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is related to his service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

Service connection for right ear disability (tinnitus) is granted. Service connection for skin disability (boil on right buttock), left leg lymphedema, right leg lymphedema, congestive heart failure, sleep apnea, enlarged aorta, and enlarged thyroid are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, which was previously denied due to lack of new and relevant evidence, has been reopened. The Board finds that the Veteran is entitled to service connection for his sleep apnea as it is proximately due to his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is caused by his service-connected allergic rhinitis, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition on a secondary basis.

The Board has remanded the case due to a pre-decisional duty-to-assist error, requiring an examination and medical opinion on whether the Veteran's sleep disorder is directly related to service or caused by his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD, finding that the weight gain caused by PTSD led to the development of obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic psychiatric disability (claimed as depression and anxiety) and sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, right ear hearing loss, and vertigo have been denied. The claim for sleep apnea is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability during or proximate to the appeal period.,Right ear hearing loss was also denied due to lack of qualifying hearing loss disability in the right ear at any time during or proximate to the appeal period.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for vertigo has been remanded. The AOJ is instructed to obtain an addendum VA medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's vertigo.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is rated at a 50 percent initial rating, effective March 17, 2015. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of chronic respiratory failure or cor pulmonale requiring tracheostomy.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is being remanded for further evaluation due to the need for additional medical opinions considering his in-service symptoms, post-service treatment, and relationship with service-connected PTSD.

The Board has found that new and relevant evidence was received since the June 2021 rating decision, allowing for readjudication of the claim of entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea. The case is remanded for further development and adjudication.