Sleep apnea decisions — 2024

The Veteran requested to withdraw his appeal for service connection of sleep apnea, and the Board dismissed the appeal as a result.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied due to the untimely filing of his higher-level review request.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's current condition is at least as likely as not related to his military service due to exposure to burn pits during deployment.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, earlier effective date for service connection for hypothyroidism, an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for hypothyroidism, and a TDIU prior to June 18, 2016.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea began during his active service and granted entitlement to service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbosacral strain, finding that new and relevant evidence supports a grant of this claim. The Board determined that the Veteran's back disability began during active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral pes planus was aggravated by service, and thus grants service connection for this condition. The issue of entitlement to service connection for obstructive sleep apnea prior to October 10, 2022 is remanded due to insufficient medical opinions.

The Veteran's service-connected other specified trauma and stressor disorders are found to have contributed to the development of his obstructive sleep apnea, thus granting service connection for OSA on a secondary basis.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected due to continuous symptoms since service.,Service connection for the low back disability is granted, with reasonable doubt resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and tinnitus. For sleep apnea, the Board found no current diagnosis of the condition. For tinnitus, the Board granted service connection based on credible assertions linking it to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for the issue of entitlement to service connection for OSA prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent her from obtaining and maintaining gainful employment, and the Board finds in favor of granting TDIU based on this finding.

A separate rating of 20 percent for erectile dysfunction and voiding dysfunction, as a residual of CVA and AFib is granted.,Service connection for migraine headaches, sleep apnea, encephalopathy, dizziness/vertigo, and a psychiatric disorder are all granted.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD and a TDIU prior to January 11, 2019, is dismissed.,VA denied the Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to January 11, 2019, for basic eligibility for Chapter 35 Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits.

The Board dismissed the appeal as moot because there is no remaining case or controversy with respect to severing service connection for OSA.

The Veteran's weight gain is not considered a disability for VA rating and compensation purposes, but it may be an intermediate step in establishing secondary service connection for erectile dysfunction, sleep apnea syndromes, and right foot condition (pes cavus).,Service connection for erectile dysfunction is granted as secondary to the Veteran's ankle, knee, and back disabilities. The weight gain preceding his cancer treatment is considered a contributing factor.

The Veteran's sleep disorder, including obstructive sleep apnea, was found to have begun during service and the Board granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service connection claims for peripheral neuropathy, skin disease, nasal disability, respiratory disability, and headaches have all been granted due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee strain, pseudofolliculitis barbae, bilateral hearing loss, bilateral elbow strain, and sleep apnea. The evidence is approximately evenly balanced as to whether these disabilities began during active service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that it is proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD, unspecified depressive disorder, and panic disorder. The decision resolves all doubt in favor of the Veteran.