Sleep apnea decisions — 2024

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for OSA as secondary to TBI due to inadequate medical opinions and a need for further examination.

The Board has granted service connection for limitation of motion of the arm and sleep apnea as secondary to service-connected PTSD. The Veteran's right shoulder disability is believed to have occurred during military service, and his obesity, caused by a heart condition related to his PTSD, led to his sleep apnea.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, finding that his current diagnosis is related to his in-service symptoms and resolving reasonable doubt in his favor.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) as secondary to his service-connected psychiatric and right knee disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to errors in duty to assist, and requests for a new VA medical opinion on whether the Veteran's sleep apnea was aggravated by his service-connected psychiatric disability or caused him to become obese.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for right carpal tunnel syndrome and obstructive sleep apnea have been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran during the appeal process.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to outstanding VA records, a missing buddy statement, and inadequate exposure verification. The Veteran's leiomyosarcoma is being reviewed for service connection based on direct evidence rather than any presumption or secondary theory.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea was denied in July 2015. The effective date of the award is set at November 13, 2020.

The Board has determined that there was a duty to assist error regarding the opinions obtained as to nexus, and therefore remands the case for an addendum medical opinion addressing whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is caused or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is remanded due to the submission of new evidence that tends to prove or disprove a matter at issue in regard to such claim. The Board finds that there was a pre-decisional duty to assist error by not providing the Veteran with an examination and opinion related to the nature and etiology of his OSA, including whether it is caused or aggravated by service-connected disability.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is granted as secondary to his service-connected major depressive disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea. The claims of service connection for hepatocellular cancer and residuals, as well as right hand carpal tunnel syndrome, are being remanded due to deficiencies in the VA medical opinions.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is granted as secondary to his service-connected neck, shoulder, and rhinitis disabilities with obesity serving as an intermediate step.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is remanded for a new VA addendum opinion to determine the etiology of his claimed condition, specifically whether it was caused or aggravated by his service-connected right knee disability and obesity.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is granted as secondary to his service-connected major depressive disorder, which caused him to gain weight and develop obesity.

The Veteran's OSA symptoms began during active service and the Board finds that the criteria for service connection are met.,The Veteran's right knee strain and meniscal tear were related to in-service injury, and the Board finds that the criteria for service connection are met.,The issue of entitlement to service connection for a right knee disability other than Right Knee Strain and Right Knee Meniscal Tear is remanded due to need for additional medical examination and opinion.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) due to a duty-to-assist error in the January 2021 VA examination opinion. The examiner did not consider all relevant evidence, including the Veteran's lay assertions and symptomatology.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for hypertension is denied, and the claim of service connection for a lumbosacral strain (low back disability) is remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for lumbar spondylosis with degenerative disc disease and OSA due to incomplete secondary service connection medical opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as it is found to be directly related to the Veteran's obesity, which developed during his military service.