Sleep apnea decisions — 2024

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current sleep apnea is related to his active-duty service, and therefore grants entitlement to service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension under the PACT Act, but has remanded all other issues due to a duty to assist error. The Veteran's heart disability, sleep apnea, colon cancer, and COPD are still on appeal.

The Veteran's service connection claim for obstructive sleep apnea is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination to determine if there is a link between his current diagnosis and his presumed exposure to burn pits during active duty.

The Veteran's left toe disability is granted a compensable rating of 20 percent.,Service connection for back, left leg, and right leg disabilities are denied.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for increased rating and service connection claims due to his withdrawal of these appeals in an April 2024 statement.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the Board is dismissing all issues related to service connection for various disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for sleep apnea due to insufficient evidence regarding its direct relationship to the Veteran's service-connected migraine headaches and adjustment disorder. The case is returned to the AOJ for further development.

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

The Board has granted an earlier effective date for sleep apnea to May 15, 2019. The issue of a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for stroke residuals is remanded due to a duty to assist error.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is found to be secondary to his service-connected chronic lumbosacral strain, with weight gain resulting in obesity as an intermediary step.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, finding that his service-connected conditions did not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to the death of the appellant, and no final decision can be made.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient analysis in the VA examiner's opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's service-connected PTSD and his obstructive sleep apnea.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for sleep apnea was improperly docketed and dismissed due to a claims-processing error. His claim has since been granted in full, with the effective date set at January 21, 2022.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea due to a lack of a VA examination and because the Veteran's exposure to burn pits during his Southwest Asia service is relevant. The case will be reviewed again with an adequate TERA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral retinitis pigmentosa first manifested during active service and is therefore granted service connection.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty to assist error, specifically regarding the adequacy of the VA medical opinion on the claim for service connection for OSA.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for sleep apnea, hypertension, and an increased disability rating for TBI.

The Board has found that the Veteran's service treatment records are incomplete and have not been fully associated with his claims file. The Board is therefore remanding the case to obtain any outstanding service treatment records.

The Board has determined that the VA medical opinions provided were not sufficient to address all of the issues raised in the Veteran's appeal, including whether his OSA is related to service or secondary to depression. The case is being remanded for further development and consideration.