Sleep apnea decisions — 2024

The Veteran's claims for increased disability rating, service connection for bilateral hearing loss, right knee condition, and sleep apnea are remanded due to inadequate VA examinations.

The Board has denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and remanded the issue of service connection for a bilateral foot disorder. The decision on appeal did not explicitly address the right foot, but the available evidence supports finding current disabilities impacting both feet.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to errors in assessing service connection for sleep apnea, specifically whether it is secondary to service-connected tinnitus. The Veteran's claim will be reviewed again with new evidence and opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea from August 29, 2022, onward. However, the claim of service connection prior to that date is remanded due to a need for additional opinions regarding potential aggravation by service-connected lumbar spine degenerative arthritis and etiology related to toxic exposure risk activities (TERA).

The Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea was denied as there is no evidence that the condition was incurred during or due to military service, and it is not related to his service-connected PTSD.

The Board dismissed the appeal for service connection of a back condition due to a procedural error, as the Veteran's appeal was not timely filed within one year of the rating decision or 60 days after an SOC.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea on a secondary basis to the extent that it is caused by the Veteran's right knee disability, which led to obesity and subsequently developed into obstructive sleep apnea.

The Veteran's OSA is found to have been caused by his military service and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is granted as service-connected.,The Veteran's bilateral knee condition is granted as service-connected.,The Veteran's gastroesophageal reflux disease and esophageal/digestive condition are denied.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain an adequate VA examination and opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea and his service-connected PTSD with amnesic disorder due to TBI.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) secondary to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but the claims of erectile dysfunction, lumbosacral strain, and degenerative arthritis of the spine are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) disability as secondary to his service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, finding no in-service injury or disease and no nexus to service. The decision also noted that there was insufficient evidence to establish a diagnosis of sleep apnea.

The Board has determined that there were errors in the duty to assist and remands several issues for further development, including psychiatric disorders, back disability, sleep apnea, right knee disability, left knee disability, and left shoulder disability.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is granted as secondary to his service-connected disabilities, including somatic symptom disorder and related spinal conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and inadequate medical opinions. The claims will be reconsidered with a full accounting of his training dates, addendum opinions on the etiology of each condition, and consideration of secondary service connection.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of sleep apnea was denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for an earlier effective date.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates of January 8, 2021, for service connection of obstructive sleep apnea and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The effective date is based on VA receiving the Veteran's intent to file a claim.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's symptoms began during his military service and there is a medical nexus linking it to his time in service.

The Board has found new and relevant evidence for the claim of service connection for sleep apnea, requiring readjudication. The Veteran's fatigue is not considered a disability for which service connection benefits may be granted.