Sleep apnea decisions — 2024

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to her service-connected depression.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for recurrent TBI residuals was denied as no evidence of such condition during active service or thereafter. The rating for tinea pedis remains noncompensable due to the use of topical treatment. A total disability rating based on individual unemployability and special monthly compensation at the housebound rate were granted prior to September 15, 2020. Basic eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance was established prior to that date.

The Board dismissed the appeal because the September 2020 rating decision did not contain an adverse decision regarding the proposed reductions of the ratings for asthma and lumbosacral strain or a decision on entitlement to an increased rating for hypothyroidism.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is being remanded for further examination and opinion to determine if it is proximately due to or the result of his service-connected PTSD, obesity, or in-service herbicide exposure.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty-to-assist error, specifically regarding whether the Veteran's OSA is aggravated by his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is secondary to her service-connected conditions, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), migraines, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and tinnitus. Therefore, the claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is granted.

The Veteran's appeals for irritable bowel syndrome and obstructive sleep apnea have been dismissed due to the appellant withdrawing his appeals.

The appeal for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's sleep apnea disability is related to service. The Veteran will need to undergo an examination and provide an opinion on this issue.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) as secondary to his service-connected Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea should be remanded due to a lack of an adequate opinion and because the PACT Act requires VA to obtain a medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's sleep apnea and his exposure to burn pit activities during service.

The Board has determined that there were pre-decisional errors in the VA's handling of the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The claims file was not reviewed adequately, and necessary evidence was not obtained. Therefore, the case is being remanded to obtain a new opinion from an appropriately qualified clinician.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for a right shoulder condition and undiagnosed sleep apnea symptoms, finding no current disability diagnoses in the record.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis, thoracolumbar degenerative disc disease, left knee strain with joint osteoarthritis, and right knee strain with joint osteoarthritis as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected pes planus and plantar fasciitis.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee degenerative arthritis, right knee meniscal tear, lumbosacral spine degenerative joint and disc disease (lumbar spine disability), and cervical spine degenerative disc disease with degenerative arthritis.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to PTSD should be remanded due to inadequate medical opinions and a duty to assist error.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea began during his active service and granted his claim for service connection.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected disabilities, including major depressive disorder, asthma, and left knee disorder.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea was denied due to a VA examiner finding no nexus between his service-connected sinusitis and the development of OSA. The Board has now remanded the case for further examination and opinion regarding whether OSA is aggravated by his service-connected sinusitis, as well as for consideration of potential toxic exposure risk activities (TERA).