Sleep apnea decisions — 2024

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination, requiring a new evaluation of the Veteran's lumbosacral conditions and their relation to service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty to assist error, and will need to provide a VA examination for the Veteran's sleep apnea claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected psychiatric condition, back condition, and radiculopathy caused his weight gain, which in turn led to his current sleep apnea. As a result, the claim for secondary service connection for sleep apnea is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for OSA as secondary to PTSD, finding that the Veteran's weight gain and obesity are related to his PTSD.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty to assist error, specifically not having provided an examination that considers the relationship between the service-connected acquired psychiatric disability and the currently diagnosed sleep apnea.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain, degenerative disc disease, and degenerative arthritis are granted as service-connected.,Right and left lower extremity radiculopathy are also granted as secondary to the service-connected lumbar spine disorders.,Service connection for migraines is remanded due to a lack of opinion on their relationship to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for migraines and hypertension is granted. The claim for sleep apnea is denied.

The Veteran's GERD is granted a 60% disability rating from June 17, 2021. The Board has also remanded the issue of service connection for OSA due to insufficient medical opinion.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is currently rated at 10 percent prior to September 26, 2020 and denied for a higher rating. Since September 26, 2020, the disability remains rated at 10 percent and also denied for a higher rating.

The Board denied an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for lumbosacral strain, finding that the Veteran's symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on limited range of motion or other functional impairment.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of sleep apnea and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, as they were not adequately addressed in the initial decision. The Veteran's representative provided additional information suggesting a possible relationship between his service-connected condition and these conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, including PTSD with traumatic brain injury residuals. The VA examiners' opinions were inadequate and further development is required.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral eye disability, sleep apnea, GERD, and bilateral hearing loss disability due to a lack of current disabilities as required by the first element of service connection.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is service-connected.,His hypertension, which was also service-connected, is considered secondary to his PTSD and sleep apnea. His chronic kidney disease, which is also service-connected, is considered secondary to his hypertension.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for secondary service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as it is caused by his service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The Board has decided to grant the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected disabilities, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), chronic lumbar strain, and lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is secondary to his service-connected left ankle disorder, and thus grants service connection for OSA as secondary to a service-connected condition.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to correct a pre-decisional duty to assist error and obtain an additional medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is secondary to her service-connected psychiatric and tinnitus disabilities, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, finding that it is proximately due to his service-connected somatic disorder and obesity as an intermediary step.