Sleep apnea decisions — 2024

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty-to-assist error in the June 2018 examiner's opinion, which did not address both causation and aggravation of sleep apnea. The Veteran's service-connected COPD may have aggravated his sleep apnea.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the service connection for degenerative arthritis, degenerative disc disease other than IVDS, and lumbosacral strain. As a result, the Board dismissed the appeal.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran, and will consider whether the obstructive sleep apnea is related to active service or any service-connected conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected somatic symptom disorder with injuries and chronic pain, finding that the weight gain leading to the sleep apnea was caused by his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for restoration of a 40% rating for DJD of the lumbosacral spine from September 30, 2019 is granted. Claims for higher ratings are denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to new medical opinions being needed on whether the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability caused or aggravated his claimed conditions, including CAD, hypertension, OSA, pancreatic cyst, lumbar spine disorder, type II diabetes mellitus, diabetic retinopathy, diabetic nephropathy, peripheral vascular disease, testosterone deficiency, colon disorder, and foot disorder.

Your claim for service connection for sleep apnea has been fully granted with a 50% disability rating effective January 25, 2019. The Board dismissed the appeal as there are no remaining questions of fact or law to be decided.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's sleep apnea claim should be remanded for a VA examination to determine if it is at least as likely as not related to service, including his in-service exposure to burn pits.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and hypersomnia due to incomplete VA examination opinions. The Veteran is seeking service connection for these conditions, which he asserts are related to his military service.

The Veteran's heart condition and hypertension were not incurred during active service, nor are they related to his service. The Board denied these claims.,The Veteran's diabetes mellitus was also not incurred during active service, nor is it related to his service. The Board denied this claim as well.

The Veteran's currently diagnosed obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is proximately due to his service-connected somatic symptom disorder (SSD). Service connection for OSA as secondary to SSD is granted.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty-to-assist error, and requests an addendum opinion from an appropriate clinician.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to errors in duty to assist and insufficient medical opinions regarding service connection for sleep apnea. The AOJ will obtain additional medical opinions on direct service connection, aggravation by service-connected rhinitis, and the role of obesity.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for sleep apnea and right shoulder condition is being remanded due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The Board finds that the evidence does not establish a direct relationship between the conditions and active service.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran had observable problems with it during and since his active duty in Iraq. The decision is based on the presumption of service connection due to combat involvement.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is granted as secondary to her service-connected polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) and unspecified trauma and stressor related disorder.

The Veteran's PTSD with insomnia is granted a 30 percent rating.,Service connection for panic disorder and/or agoraphobia (claimed as agoraphobia) is denied.

The Veteran's earlier effective date for a 50 percent rating for migraine headaches is granted as of February 3, 2017.,The Veteran's eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) is also granted as of February 3, 2017.

The Veteran withdrew their appeal for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, and the case is dismissed.

The Board has dismissed the claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as depression) and granted service connection for sleep apnea. The claims for allergic rhinitis, sinusitis, and gastroesophageal reflux disorder are remanded.