Sleep apnea decisions — 2024

The Veteran's service-connected back disability requires regular aid and assistance of another person, qualifying him for special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance. The issue of housebound status is moot due to the award of SMC based on aid and attendance.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's OSA began during his active service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's narcolepsy and its relationship to his service-connected conditions. The VA will obtain an addendum opinion from a qualified clinician to address these issues.

The Veteran's OSA is being remanded for a new VA opinion to determine if it is caused or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD, obesity (as an intermediate step), or another condition. The Veteran contends that his weight gain due to antipsychotic medication for PTSD may be the cause of his OSA.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as secondary to his service-connected disabilities, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), degenerative arthritis of the spine with intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS), left sciatica radiculopathy, right sciatica radiculopathy, left knee osteoarthritis, and right knee arthritis.

The appeal is granted to readjudicate the claim of entitlement to service connection for obstructive sleep apnea. The Veteran's new and relevant evidence, including an article discussing a higher prevalence of OSA in psychiatric patients, has been submitted and reviewed by the Board.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is secondary to his service-connected PTSD and also due to a lack of an examination for direct service connection. The Veteran will need further examinations and medical opinions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating are remanded due to the need for VA examinations regarding toxic exposure risk activities, including burn pits. The PACT Act requires a nexus opinion in these cases.

The Board has determined that the VA examiner's opinion is insufficient and requires further investigation to determine if the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is caused by his service-connected PTSD or if it was aggravated by his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and lumbar spine disability are found to have caused his obesity, which in turn caused his OSA. The Board has granted service connection for OSA on a secondary basis.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an effective date prior to April 24, 2016 for service connection of obstructive sleep apnea as there was no pending formal or informal claim for this condition before that date and no reasonable raised secondary service connection claim.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, left shoulder disorder, radiculopathy of the left arm, left foot disorder, right foot disorder, sleep apnea, and right hip disorder are being remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.,Specifically, a VA examination is needed for each of these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, left knee instability, and right knee instability. Service connection was denied for the Veteran's right side ulcer with pain.,Service connection is granted for the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea, left knee instability, and right knee instability on a direct basis.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for hearing loss or tinnitus, and the effective dates were granted based on continuous pursuit of claims since May 2021.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbosacral strain (previously diagnosed as degenerative arthritis of the spine) and allergic rhinitis, finding that both conditions are related to active service.

The Board has denied service connection for right ear hearing loss due to lack of evidence meeting VA's criteria. The Board has also remanded the claims for obstructive sleep apnea and lumbar spine disability, as well as the claim for right ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for sleep apnea and an increase in his PTSD rating was dismissed because the Veteran withdrew his appeal.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as secondary to his service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) with recurrent depression, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has determined that it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran's sleep apnea is caused by his service-connected PTSD, granting the claim for secondary service connection.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent, but no higher. The finger injury claim was denied. Other service connection claims were also denied.