Sleep apnea decisions — 2024

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected low back condition. The decision is based on a private medical opinion that concluded the Veteran's sleep apnea was caused by his service-connected back disability.

The Board denied service connection for lumbosacral strain, right shoulder strain, and cervical strain as the evidence did not establish a causal link between the in-service injuries and current disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea has been dismissed because he requested to withdraw his appeal.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain has been rated at 10 percent, and the Board granted a higher rating of 40 percent effective August 31, 2019.

The Board granted service connection for hypertension and denied a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss. The claim for sleep apnea was remanded due to incomplete records.

The Board grants service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected left ankle disability and low back disability, based on persuasive evidence that his obstructive sleep apnea is caused by these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's Obstructive Sleep Apnea was not incurred during service and is not caused or aggravated by a service-connected disability. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran withdrew their appeal regarding service connection for sleep apnea, resulting in the dismissal of this case.

The Board granted readjudication of the claims for service connection for a low back disability, right lower extremity neurological disorder, and left lower extremity neurological disorder based on new and relevant evidence.

The Board has denied service connection for back, left knee, right knee, and sleep apnea conditions as secondary to service-connected foot disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbosacral strain with chronic thoracic strain.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease and degenerative arthritis was denied, as the effective date cannot be earlier than December 9, 2021, when VA received his supplemental claim. The Board found that no valid claim had been filed within one year of separation from service.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, erectile dysfunction, hepatic disease, hypertension, kidney disease, low testosterone, pulmonary embolism, sleep apnea, supraventricular tachycardia, and syncope to correct a duty to assist error in failing to obtain adequate VA examinations.

The Board denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as it is not related to the Veteran's active service or his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD, resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea on a secondary basis, finding that the Veteran's obesity, which was caused by his service-connected disabilities, was a substantial factor in developing the condition.

The Board denied service connection for a left shoulder disorder, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, and sleep apnea as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of sufficient evidence to establish service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, which is related to in-service toxic exposure. The Veteran will receive an examination and opinion under the PACT Act.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, a left hip disability, and a lumbar spine disability to obtain outstanding private treatment records.

The Board dismissed the duplicative appeals for evaluation and service connection of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with mycotic lung disease, to include emphysema; obstructive sleep apnea; posttraumatic stress disorder; chronic kidney disease; and tinnitus.