Sleep apnea decisions — 2024

The Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbosacral strain was denied as the evidence did not support a finding that his current condition began during service or is related to an in-service injury.,The effective date of service connection for PFB was denied because there were no formal claims filed prior to November 6, 2018.

The Veteran's appeal for increased disability ratings and service connection claims have been dismissed due to his death. No effective date has been assigned.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a failure to provide an additional VA examination after the Veteran submitted statements about in-service symptoms and continued sleep problems.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate opinion regarding whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea was aggravated by his service-connected PTSD. The RO will need to provide an addendum opinion on this issue.

The Veteran is seeking a temporary total rating for his service-connected cervical spine and lumbosacral strain disabilities due to convalescence after surgery. The RO failed to adjudicate this claim in its November 2020 decision, so the case is being remanded.

The Veteran's OSA is related to his service-connected PTSD, and the Board has granted service connection for OSA based on this relationship.

The Board denied service connection for Obstructive Sleep Apnea, finding no nexus between the condition and either in-service exposure or a direct relationship to service.

The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no current diagnosis of hearing loss that meets the regulatory threshold.,The Veteran's claim for psychiatric disorder is denied as there is no evidence linking his current condition to service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, finding that it is etiologically related to his service-connected disabilities through obesity as an intermediate step.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea, finding that it was caused by obesity due to his service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a neck condition and migraine headaches, as well as his increased rating claims for left foot pes planus with DJD of the left great toe and right foot pes planus with DJD of the right great toe. The lumbosacral spine degenerative disc disease was also denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate VA examination, and a need for further medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's sleep apnea.

The Veteran's service-connected OSA and PTSD have been granted, with the TDIU also being granted due to his service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing or maintaining employment.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for migraine headaches is granted, as the evidence supports a finding that his current migraines began during active duty and are related to his service.,Service connection for traumatic brain injury (TBI) is denied. The Veteran reported having hit his head in service but there is no objective evidence of any TBI or concussion at any time during the pendency of the claim, nor has he presented a current disability that can be linked to service.

The Board has restored the Veteran's disability rating for lumbosacral strain, degenerative arthritis and IVDS with bilateral mild sciatic radiculopathy from 60% to 60%, effective July 1, 2020.

The Board has granted secondary service connection for headaches, an acquired psychiatric disability (including depression and anxiety), and OSA, all of which are found to be proximately due or aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected back condition.

The Board has found that the VA examinations and opinions are inadequate to adjudicate the claims for service connection for generalized anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder, traumatic brain injury, left knee disability, right knee disability, and sleep apnea. The claims are being remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for diabetes mellitus type II was denied as the evidence did not show that his diabetes required more than one daily insulin injection and a restricted diet. The Veteran also received a TDIU due to multiple service-connected disabilities.

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

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including OSA and CIDP of the bilateral upper and lower extremities, meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU as of January 27, 2016. The effective date is set at this time.