Sleep apnea decisions — 2024

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral retinitis pigmentosa, finding that the Veteran's condition was not noted at entry into service and is presumed to have been sound. The disease did not worsen during service but may have been exacerbated by lack of proper sun protection.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea, headaches, and depression NOS and adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood. The Veteran's reported symptoms in service are considered credible, and the evidence is approximately evenly balanced as to whether these conditions began during active service.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied. The claims of service connection for an eye disability and a sleep disorder are remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The appeal regarding the issues of entitlement to service connection for major depressive disorder or insomnia, sleep apnea, and increased ratings for post-operative residuals spinal fusion/IVDS, right lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatic nerve), bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy (femoral nerve), painful scar, status post laminectomy, scars, status post laminectomy and spinal fusion surgeries, and maxillary sinusitis has been dismissed as the Veteran's attorney withdrew his appeal in June 2024.,The appeal regarding entitlement to service connection for headaches was rendered moot by the AOJ's award of service connection for headaches in February 2024.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is related to his service-connected degenerative arthritis with degenerative disc disease and intervertebral disc syndrome, which aggravated his obesity. As a result, service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is granted.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence supports reopening the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The case is now remanded to consider the merits of the claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is related to his service-connected sinus disability, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection are denied as no formal or informal claim was received prior to June 23, 2020.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea was incurred during service and granted his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder and bilateral lower extremity varicose veins disabilities are found to be the primary causes of his claimed conditions, leading to grants of service connection for coronary artery disease, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, obstructive sleep apnea, and a reflux condition.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to address a pre-decisional duty to assist error and obtain new VA medical opinions for the Veteran's sleep apnea and hypertension, as these conditions may be aggravated by her service-connected PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and opinion regarding service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), including a potential link to toxic exposure during military service. The Veteran's OSA is being considered on both direct service connection grounds and due to his Gulf War deployments, which may be related to toxic exposures.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea did not manifest during service and is unrelated to service. The claim for service connection for sleep apnea is denied.

Service connection for diabetes mellitus type II (DM II) and hypertension (HTN) is granted on a presumptive basis due to herbicide agent exposure.,Service connection for right hip osteoarthritis, post hip replacement and left hip osteoarthritis, post hip replacement are granted on a direct basis.

The Board has granted service connection for migraine headaches and obstructive sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are at least as likely as not caused or aggravated by his service-connected psychiatric disability and low back disability.

The Veteran seeks service connection for his sleep apnea, which he claims is secondary to his PTSD. The Board finds a duty to assist error occurred and remands the case for an updated medical opinion regarding whether PTSD caused or aggravated his obesity, which in turn may have contributed to his sleep apnea.

The Board has granted service connection for Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) as it is secondary to the Veteran's service-connected multiple orthopedic disabilities and insomnia disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of OSA was granted with an effective date of January 24, 2018. The Board found that the earliest possible effective date should be December 12, 2017, based on his Intent to File (ITF) application.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, finding that there is not a causal relationship between his current condition and his military service or exposure to herbicide agents. The evidence does not support a direct link.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea is proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD, and thus grants service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to PTSD.