Sleep apnea decisions — 2024

The Veteran's claim for service connection for Obstructive Sleep Apnea was granted with an effective date of February 17, 2020. The decision is based on the fact that his current diagnosis of Obstructive Sleep Apnea is secondary to his service-connected acquired psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is being remanded due to a duty to assist error. The VA will obtain medical opinions regarding whether the condition was caused or aggravated by a service-connected disability, specifically considering obesity as an intermediary factor.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty to assist error and additional medical opinions are needed regarding the relationship between the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea and his service-connected PTSD, as well as any potential synergistic effects from other toxic exposure risk activities.

The Veteran's claim for an evaluation higher than 30 percent for atopic dermatitis of the inner ears, actinic keratosis, rosacea, and squamous cell carcinoma of the face is being remanded due to incomplete private treatment records from Valley Dermatology.

The Veteran withdrew all his claims on appeal, including those for increased ratings and service connection.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II. The decision is based on a finding that there is at least equipoise evidence in favor of the Veteran's claim.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is granted as secondary to his service-connected PTSD. The Veteran also receives a TDIU rating due to the combined impact of multiple service-connected disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to duty-to-assist errors and inadequate medical opinions. The Veteran's sleep apnea is being reviewed again, with a focus on whether it is proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected posttraumatic seizure disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea had its onset during his active service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's OSA and RAD are granted with a 50% rating beginning December 31, 2016. The RO must obtain the complete sleep study reports from Professional Sleep Diagnostics and/or Dr. Porterfield dated December 2015 and March 2016 to determine when the Veteran required use of a breathing assistance device for OSA.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to May 6, 2013 for the award of service connection for sleep apnea was denied as there is no legal right to this benefit.,The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to November 12, 2016 for the award of service connection for coronary artery disease status post bypass graft and myocardial infarction associated with herbicide exposure was also denied due to lack of current disability related to heart problems during the pendency of his initial claim.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea. The claims for bilateral foot disability, right knee disability, and gastritis are remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examination opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea, which is secondary to his service-connected mental health disorders. The VA needs to provide a new opinion on whether the sleep apnea had its onset during service or is related to any incident of service, and if it was caused by or aggravated by his service-connected mental health conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diagnosed Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is secondary to and aggravated by his service-connected Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) with Alcohol Use Disorder, granting service connection for OSA on this basis.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received to readjudicate the claim of entitlement to service connection for bipolar disorder. The appeal as to the claim of entitlement to service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, fungal condition on the right foot, and lumbosacral strain due to inadequate opinions in the May 2021 VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The Veteran's in-service stressors need to be verified, and a VA examination is needed to determine if any psychiatric disorder is related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that the evidence did not support a link between his current condition and his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent her from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment during the period on appeal, thus TDIU is denied.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection for sleep apnea, and the Board has dismissed the appeal.