Sleep apnea decisions — 2024

The Veteran's left hip disability is granted as secondary to his service-connected degenerative disc disease with intervertebral disc syndrome.,Obstructive sleep apnea is granted as secondary to his service-connected degenerative disc disease with intervertebral disc syndrome and cervical spine degenerative disc disease and degenerative arthritis.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection for episodic lumbosacral strain with right side sciatica, bilateral hearing loss, and a compensable disability rating for tinea versicolor effective October 1, 2001. The December 2020 document was not considered a valid decision by VA.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for mild obstructive sleep apnea and a lumbar strain have been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal prior to the Board making a decision.

The Veteran's mental health condition, other specified trauma and stressor-related disorder with depressive disorder, is rated at a 50 percent rating since June 21, 2021. Effective dates for service connection have been granted for liposarcoma, left medial thigh muscle disability, scar, left groin status post orchiectomy, and special monthly compensation based on housebound status.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, finding that there is an approximate balance of evidence in favor of a link between the condition and active service.

Your service connection claims for low back disability, right hip disability, left hip disability, and sleep apnea have already been fully granted in previous decisions. Therefore, there are no remaining issues to be decided by the Board.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions have rendered him in need of regular aid and attendance, which has been granted. The housebound rate is moot as the SMC based on aid and attendance is a greater benefit.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea was granted with an effective date of September 21, 2022. The Board found that the Veteran continuously prosecuted his claim since he originally filed it on March 26, 2020.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that it is due to his service-connected lumbosacral strain with obesity as an intermediate step.

The Veteran's service-connected Crohn's disease, anxiety/depressive disorder, and sleep apnea render him unable to maintain gainful employment due to his physical and mental impairments.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability but remanded the issue of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea due to insufficient medical opinions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding a direct relationship between current OSA and active service. A VA medical opinion is needed to determine if there is at least as likely as not that the current OSA is etiologically related to a period of active service.

The Board has granted service connection for Obstructive Sleep Apnea, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to his military service, specifically Gulf War exposure. The claim was remanded for a secondary service connection due to PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty-to-assist error, specifically regarding the relationship between the Veteran's service-connected conditions and his obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The VA is instructed to obtain an addendum opinion from a VA clinician addressing causation and aggravation.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, including as due to service-connected disability and obesity, is remanded. The AOJ must obtain a new VA medical opinion addressing the relationship between the Veteran's in-service symptoms, his current disabilities, and his sleep apnea.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection of sleep apnea before the Board could make a decision.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding the ratings and service connection for various knee conditions, nerve damage, and sleep apnea.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for increased ratings in several conditions due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has remanded the claims for prostate cancer, hypertension, obesity, sleep apnea, lumbar spine disability, bilateral pes planus, left foot bunion, right foot bunion, left ankle disability (claimed as achilles tendonitis), left knee disability, right knee disability, left hand disability, right hand disability, left elbow disability, right elbow disability, left shoulder disability, and right shoulder disability due to incomplete military records.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical examination and duty to assist errors. The Veteran's OSA is being reviewed for potential service connection based on secondary theory.