Sleep apnea decisions — 2024

The Board has granted an effective date of December 7, 2015 for the award of service connection for sleep apnea. The Veteran's symptoms were present prior to the March 2017 sleep study that confirmed the diagnosis.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found that the claimed conditions did not manifest in service or within one year of separation, and are not proximately due to, the result of, or aggravated by a service-connected disease or injury.,For accrued benefits purposes, the Veteran was not granted service connection for any of his claimed disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical strain, finding that the Veteran's current condition is proximately due to his service-connected bilateral ankle conditions and bilateral plantar fasciitis.,The Board has also granted service connection for lumbosacral strain, finding that the Veteran's current condition is etiologically related to his active service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD and lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, GERD, IBS, right and left knee disabilities, sleep apnea, and an acquired psychiatric disorder have been remanded due to insufficient evidence or further clarification needed.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for sleep apnea, finding that it is proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected depressive disorder.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have most nearly approximated occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, warranting a 70% rating for the entire period on appeal. The Veteran is also granted TDIU prior to June 6, 2022.

The Board has decided to remand the claim of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) due to insufficient medical opinions regarding causation and aggravation.

The Board has granted service connection for Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected depression and anxiety, finding that obesity acted as an intermediate step in a causal chain.

The Veteran's sleep apnea with COPD is currently rated at 50 percent, but the Board found no evidence to support a higher rating due to lack of respiratory failure or tracheostomy.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is now rated at 70%, qualifying him for a TDIU effective November 19, 2020. The Board found that the Veteran was unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment within one year prior to his claim for a TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for a back disability is denied as the decision was final due to lack of timely appeal.

The Board is remanding the claims for service connection for various disabilities due to duty-to-assist errors and new evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the case due to duty-to-assist errors and a need for additional medical opinions regarding service connection for OSA. The Veteran's obesity is presumed related to his Gulf War service, and he seeks service connection based on secondary effects of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for sleep apnea and acquired psychiatric disability was denied. The effective dates for the grants of service connection were also denied.,The Veteran is granted TDIU as of February 23, 2012.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine has been granted with an effective date of March 24, 2020.,The Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss disability was denied.,The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for MDD and other specified trauma and stressor related disorder, lumbosacral radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, lumbosacral radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, and service connection for bowel and bladder incontinence were remanded.,The Veteran's claims are being returned to VA for further action.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for CFS, GERD, and Raynaud's syndrome is dismissed.,The Veteran's appeals for service connection for a low back disability, sinusitis, OSA, and tinnitus are also dismissed.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is granted as secondary to his service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The Board found that the obesity caused by his PTSD was a substantial factor in causing his obstructive sleep apnea.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The right ankle disorder claim was remanded, and the sleep apnea and pseudofolliculitis claims were denied.

The Board has granted an effective date of July 2, 2018 for the service connection of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), which is the earliest date that entitlement arose based on medical records.