Sleep apnea decisions — 2024

The Board has dismissed all pending claims due to the appellant's withdrawal of his appeals for increased disability ratings in multiple service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for lumbosacral strain with intervertebral disc syndrome (claimed as back injury) due to a lack of an adequate rationale in the November 2020 VA medical opinion and a potential duty to assist error.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea was found to have begun during active service and has continued since, warranting service connection.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate VA examination, and a new one must be conducted.

The Board denied service connection for cervical strain, finding that the evidence did not support a link to active service.,The claim for readjudication of sleep apnea was found not warranted due to lack of new and relevant evidence.

The Board dismissed all service connection claims for various conditions due to the appellant's withdrawal of the appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea is granted due to the submission of new and relevant evidence, which includes VA treatment records from June 2021 where the Veteran was diagnosed with mild sleep apnea.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is related to and/or aggravated by his service-connected residual left shoulder strain status post recurrent dislocation, old, healed fracture, and X-ray findings of old degenerative joint disease and residuals of fracture of right fifth finger. As a result, service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea was dismissed because the Veteran withdrew his appeal after receiving a favorable decision.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability and lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis and intervertebral disc syndrome (lumbar spine disability) have been granted service connection. The Veteran's PTSD has also been granted service connection, but the hypertension secondary to PTSD and diabetes mellitus remain pending issues.

The Veteran's claim for separate evaluations for sleep apnea and asthma has been denied as VA regulations prohibit the assignment of separate ratings for these conditions. The Board found that the disabilities present with overlapping symptomatology but are not mutually inclusive.

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

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection due to procedural issues and lack of merit in his arguments.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to their death during the pendency of the appeal. The Board cannot issue a decision on the underlying claims at this time.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between his current condition and active duty service or any other factor. The Veteran's difficulty sleeping was attributed to his PTSD, but the VA examiner concluded that this did not establish a causal relationship with his sleep apnea.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbosacral spine arthritis (low back condition) and neurogenic bladder disorder, both secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right ankle.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea is remanded due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error. A new medical opinion is needed regarding the relationship between the Veteran's sleep apnea and his in-service toxic exposure.

The Board has decided that service connection for a chronic low back disorder is denied. The claim for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is remanded due to the need for a VA examination and opinion.

The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for service connection of obstructive sleep apnea has been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is remanded due to the need for a VA examination and additional medical records.