Sleep apnea decisions — 2024

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an effective date prior to June 24, 2011, for service connection of lumbar spine disability and denied his claims for service connection of hypertension and hyperthyroidism. The Board found no evidence that these conditions began during active service or were related to in-service injury, event, or disease.

The Board has remanded the case due to a failure to obtain an opinion regarding how the appellant's service-connected disabilities, in combination with one another, impact his ability to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The claim will be reconsidered after obtaining this additional information.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is found to be secondary to his service-connected mood disorder, and the Board grants this claim.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection of obstructive sleep apnea due to inadequate medical opinions. The case is returned to the AOJ for further development and consideration.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied across multiple conditions, including lumbosacral strain, allergic rhinitis, sinusitis, tension headaches, acne, sleep disorder, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), right wrist disorder, left knee disorder, right knee disorder, neurological disorders affecting the lower extremities, and foot disorders. The Board found that none of these conditions warranted a higher rating or service connection.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right ankle, right knee, acquired psychiatric disorder, headaches, and sleep apnea disabilities due to potential exposure at Camp Lejeune.,VA is required to provide a VA examination and obtain medical opinions regarding the possible nexus between these conditions and the Veteran's service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea was granted with an effective date of January 19, 2021. The condition first manifested at least as early as April 2016.

The Veteran's claimed disabilities, including left shoulder, right shoulder, right knee, left knee, right foot, and left foot disabilities, as well as bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, and prostate cancer, were not incurred or aggravated during service. The Board found that the evidence did not establish a nexus between these conditions and service.

The Board has determined that the claim for service connection for OSA as secondary to adjustment disorder with anxiety must be remanded due to inadequate medical opinions and a duty-to-assist error.

The Veteran's initial ratings for sleep apnea, GERD, tinnitus, and scars were denied as the evidence did not support higher evaluations.,The Veteran's erectile dysfunction was also denied as there is no basis for a compensable rating.

The Veteran's service-connected insomnia disorder is granted, and she receives a 30% rating for PTSD. The lumbosacral strain issue remains remanded, as does the allergic rhinitis and right knee strain issues.

The Veteran's migraine headaches and back conditions have been restored to their previous ratings, while the knee instability issues remain denied.

The Veteran's chronic sinusitis has been granted service connection, with the condition having its onset during her military service. Service connection for OSA secondary to chronic sinusitis is also granted.,Service connection for migraine headaches remains pending and will be remanded.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that it was caused by his service-connected unspecified depressive disorder.

The appeal of evaluation for obstructive sleep apnea with left phrenic nerve paralysis associated with diabetes mellitus is dismissed. The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for trigeminal neuralgia.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate opinions regarding whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is caused or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD and gastric disorder. The VA will provide a supplemental opinion for these issues.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of proper consideration of new evidence submitted after the prior denial, and for further medical opinions regarding service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions and incomplete file, particularly regarding the Veteran's service connection claim for obstructive sleep apnea.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain, degenerative arthritis, degenerative disc disease L4-L5, and intervertebral disc syndrome is effective the earliest date permissible by law and VA statute.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea was initially denied in March 2021. The appellant, representing the Veteran, filed a Supplemental Claim on March 30, 2021, seeking review of this denial. The Board granted the claim and awarded service connection for sleep apnea in April 2021.