Sleep apnea decisions — 2024

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding his GERD and OSA, as well as a VA examination for degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine, right knee degenerative arthritis, and left knee osteoarthritis. The AOJ will consider any new evidence submitted during this process.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for neck disability, headaches, hernia disability, sleep apnea, bruxism, left knee disability, right knee disability, and left shoulder disability. The Board found no evidence of current disabilities or in-service events that would support these claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as secondary to his service-connected post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), finding that OSA is not related to PTSD and is not otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea, specifically whether it is secondary to a service-connected disability or caused by obesity. The examiner must provide opinions on both causation and aggravation.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for TBI and lumbosacral strain due to errors in verifying periods of active duty training (ACDUTRA) and inactive duty training (INACDUTRA). The VA examiner's opinions are also inadequate, and further medical examination may be necessary.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates as his conditions did not meet criteria for increased ratings in the year preceding the November 2021 VA examination.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty to assist error, specifically regarding the need for an addendum opinion on whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is aggravated by his service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's symptoms during active duty and a subsequent monitored test after separation are sufficient to establish service connection.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for sleep apnea due to inadequate medical opinion in the January 2022 VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied due to his failure to report for VA examinations without providing good cause.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) as it is a stand-alone claim and not related to the appeal stream that was before the Board.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's symptoms began during active military service and resolving reasonable doubt in his favor.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal in its entirety, requesting the immediate withdrawal of all issues on appeal including unspecified depressive disorder with insomnia disorder, obstructive sleep apnea, bilateral shoulder condition (previously diagnosed as left acromioclavicular joint separation and right pectoralis tendon rupture), and right knee condition.

The Board has granted service connection for status post abdominal hysterectomy but has remanded the issue of service connection for sleep apnea due to a lack of an etiological opinion.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a right-hand condition, right leg shin splints, left leg shin splints, sleep disorder (including sleep apnea), and residuals of traumatic brain injury. The evidence does not support these claims.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, which was secondary to service-connected low back disability or sinusitis, has been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew their appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbosacral spine disability and remanded the issue of service connection for a cervical spine disability due to duty to assist error.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including right and left ankle arthralgia, a sleep disorder, an acquired psychiatric disorder, left shoulder osteoarthritis, right knee disability, right hip OA, left hip OA, cervical spine disability, and hearing loss have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of service connection for any of these conditions.,The Veteran's claims were remanded for further action on his hypertension and GERD/hiatal hernia.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea with asthma was granted, effective May 30, 2017. The Board found that the criteria were met for an earlier effective date of May 30, 2017.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding direct service connection for obstructive sleep apnea. The Veteran's current diagnosis of OSA is undisputed, but there are conflicting opinions on secondary and aggravation service connection.