Sleep apnea decisions — 2024

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected PTSD aggravated his current obstructive sleep apnea, and thus grants service connection for this condition on a secondary basis.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral lower extremity idiopathic neuropathy, have resulted in the effective loss of use of both feet. The Board finds that this meets the criteria for eligibility to financial assistance for an automobile and adaptive equipment.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's sleep apnea is related to his service-connected chronic kidney disease with hypertension, but a new opinion is needed due to a duty-to-assist error.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been denied.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and right ankle disability have been remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected PTSD aggravated his current obstructive sleep apnea, and thus grants service connection for this condition on a secondary basis.

The Board has found new and relevant evidence submitted since the last denial of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea. The Veteran's claim is remanded to allow for a new examination and opinion regarding whether his obstructive sleep apnea had its onset in or is otherwise related to his military service, as well as whether it was caused by weight gain due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is remanded due to inadequate medical opinions and the need for a TERA specific examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbosacral strain with arthritis was granted, and the effective date is set at July 31, 2020.

The Veteran's OSA and lumbar spine disability are granted as secondary to service-connected PTSD. The right knee instability is granted a 10% rating.

The Board has granted a 50% rating for sleep apnea and has set the effective date at April 23, 2021. The Veteran's service-connected PTSD was found to have aggravated his pre-existing sleep apnea, requiring him to use a CPAP machine.

The Veteran withdrew their appeals for service connection of chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, sinusitis, a respiratory condition, sleep apnea, and migraines. The Board dismissed the appeal as per the Veteran's withdrawal.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty to assist error, and will need further medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea began in service or is related to his in-service complaints of wheezing and difficulty breathing at night.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbosacral strain, left sciatic radiculopathy, and right sciatic radiculopathy have been granted with effective dates of August 18, 2017.

Service connection for recurrent right knee injury residuals is granted. The Veteran's left hand and thumb neuropathy, GERD, migraine headaches, and obstructive sleep apnea are all remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome or anal leakage with rectal scar, and therefore service connection for these conditions is denied.,The Board has also determined that there is insufficient evidence to establish whether the Veteran's complex obstructive sleep apnea or esophageal sphincter damage are aggravated by his service-connected disabilities. The claims are remanded for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the service connection claim for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as secondary to service-connected disabilities due to a pre-decisional duty-to-assist error. The Veteran's OSA is related to his PTSD, but no VA examination or opinion was obtained regarding whether it is directly related to service or caused by his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability is related to his service, but more evidence is needed for a final decision.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected major depressive disorder, lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, and right knee ACL reconstruction and medial meniscal debridement residuals.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as secondary to his service-connected allergic rhinitis, finding that OSA is likely due to his service-connected condition.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea syndrome is aggravated by his service-connected major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder.