Sleep apnea decisions — 2024

The Veteran's IHD is rated at 60 percent effective May 25, 2018. The Veteran's OSA with asthma remains at a maximum of 50 percent.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbosacral strain, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to his in-service injury.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as service-connected.,The Veteran's kidney disease is granted as secondary to his service-connected hypertension.,The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is granted as aggravated by his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for a new VA examination and opinion regarding whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is proximately caused or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD and depression.

The Board has decided to remand the claim of service connection for lumbosacral arthritis due to a duty to assist error. The Veteran's records, including his military history and treatment records, need to be obtained to determine if his back pain is related to service.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for TMJ, an ear disorder (vertigo and dizziness), obstructive sleep apnea, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (anxiety) as due to service-connected tinnitus. The VA is instructed to provide a new opinion regarding whether these conditions would be less severe but for the service-connected tinnitus.

The Veteran's COPD is currently rated at 30 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on lung function tests.,The Veteran's lumbosacral strain is currently rated at 20 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on range of motion.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain was incurred in or caused by his active military service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's current diagnosis of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is found to have onset during active service and has continued since then. The Board finds that the evidence supports a finding of service connection for OSA.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS) with lumbosacral strain, spinal stenosis, and degenerative arthritis due to a lack of formal or informal claims within one year of the prior denial.

The Veteran's service-connected unspecified depressive disorder with anxious distress and residuals of right tibia/fibula fracture are found to be the primary cause of his obstructive sleep apnea, which is granted as secondary to these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea as there is no current diagnosis of this condition.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for a compensable rating for idiopathic hematuria with nephralgia and service connection for sleep apnea due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors. The Veteran needs new examinations to determine the severity of his conditions and their etiology.

The Veteran's irritable bowel syndrome is granted service connection based on direct evidence. The claims for chronic fatigue, sleep apnea, indigestion, cervical thoracic disability, and right ankle disability are remanded.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is proximately due to or the result of his service-connected PTSD, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition on a secondary basis.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's sleep apnea syndrome is aggravated by his service-connected allergic rhinitis.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on five separate conditions (diabetes mellitus, type II; low back disability; right knee disability; left knee disability; and sleep apnea) have been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeal.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is found to have begun in service and has persisted since, meeting the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) was diagnosed during his active service and the Board has determined that it is related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and an earlier effective date for tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for additional development.