Sleep apnea decisions — 2024

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, diabetes, coronary artery disease, and sleep apnea as secondary to her service-connected PTSD, lumbosacral strain, and left knee disabilities with obesity as an intermediate step. The case requires further examination and opinion regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has dismissed the appeals regarding service connection for bilateral knee disability, hernia, and sleep apnea as the appellant (or their representative) withdrew the appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for erectile dysfunction and sleep apnea due to insufficient compliance with previous directives. The claims will be reconsidered, and a medical opinion is needed regarding whether there is a nexus between the conditions and the Veteran's service-connected adjustment disorder with depressed mood as well as his Gulf War exposure.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty to assist error regarding causation and aggravation of sleep apnea by service-connected low back disability and psychiatric disability. The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea is being returned to the AOJ for further action.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that it is not related to his active military service and there was no evidence of a service-connected disability causing or aggravating his condition.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain evaluation was restored to 20 percent, effective January 10, 2019. An increased evaluation of 70 percent for unspecified depressive disorder and a 10 percent evaluation for hypertension were granted.

The Veteran's service-connected obstructive sleep apnea and erectile dysfunction are granted. The right ear hearing loss and right knee disability claims are denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea is granted as secondary to his service-connected depressive disorder and other conditions. His claim for an increased rating for depressive disorder is also granted, but the claim for migraine headaches and lumbar spine condition remains pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeals regarding his claims of service connection for various conditions due to a failure to timely file a substantive appeal within 60 days of receiving the Statement of the Case (SOC).

The Veteran's service-connected orthopedic conditions (including shoulder impingement syndrome, bilateral pes planus, degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine, sacroiliitis of the right hip, bilateral patellofemoral pain syndrome, left ankle sprain, and right wrist sprain with carpal tunnel syndrome) caused his Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), which was aggravated by obesity.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals, satisfied with his 100 percent disability rating.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is found to be secondary to his service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and residuals of traumatic brain injury (TBI).

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as it was caused by hazardous noise exposure in service.,Service connection for hepatitis C with liver cirrhosis is denied because there is no evidence of onset or causation during service and the Veteran did not have a current diagnosis prior to separation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and major depression are being remanded due to a duty to assist error. A VA examination is required to address all theories of entitlement.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty to assist error, and will consider whether sleep apnea is caused or aggravated by service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to his request for withdrawal of the entire appeal filed in September 2020.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU were denied, while the claim for an effective date for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) was granted.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The Veteran's sleep apnea is granted as secondary to his service-connected disabilities.,PTSD is granted based on the Veteran's combat experiences in Iraq.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea, finding that it is secondary to his service-connected adjustment disorder and linked by way of obesity.