Sleep apnea decisions — 2024

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on three issues (loss of teeth, sinus problems, and sleep apnea) have been withdrawn. The Board has dismissed the appeal.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's sleep apnea is not due to or aggravated by his service-connected nasal bone fracture, and thus denied the claim. The decision is remanded for further review.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea and remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The claim for tinnitus is being remanded to obtain STRs and a medical opinion.

The Board has granted an effective date of May 21, 2013 for the award of a TDIU on an extraschedular basis and for basic eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have prevented him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment since at least May 21, 2013.

The Veteran's service connection claim for OSA is granted, while his claims for chronic fatigue and PTSD are denied. The Veteran's lumbar disability and skin disability claims are remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection for asthma with obstructive sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran did not file his supplemental claim within one year of the December 2019 rating decision due to a lack of concurrent or prior filing of a request for extension of time.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and irritable bowel syndrome due to a duty-to-assist error in previous examinations. The Veteran's statements, including those from his former spouse and military buddies, will be considered along with medical records.

The Veteran's cancer of the jaw is found to be related to his service exposure to ionizing radiation, and thus service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is related to his service-connected PTSD and obesity, which are also linked to his service-connected disabilities. The Board has granted service connection for OSA.

The Veteran's service connection for Obstructive Sleep Apnea was granted with an effective date of August 10, 2022, based on a finding that his condition is related to inservice herbicide exposure in Vietnam. The decision also noted the PACT Act established new presumptions for certain Veterans' conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for OSA is remanded due to a duty to assist error and the need for an adequate medical opinion.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's deviated septum and obstructive sleep apnea, finding that these conditions are at least as likely as not related to his military service. The decision is based on credible lay statements and medical opinions linking the conditions to service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for sleep apnea, and the claim has been granted effective August 11, 2022.

The Veteran's petition to readjudicate his claims for PTSD, an acquired psychiatric disorder, and a lumbosacral strain is granted due to the submission of new and relevant evidence. The claims are remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea as it was not established that the condition is related to service or a service-connected disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea is etiologically related to his active service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of an adequate opinion regarding whether the Veteran's OSA is related to service. The claim will be returned for further review.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected left shoulder impingement syndrome and spine disability caused his obesity, which in turn led to his sleep apnea. Therefore, the claim for service connection for sleep apnea is granted.

The Veteran's bilateral tinnitus was granted service connection as it is related to in-service noise exposure.,Obstructive sleep apnea was also granted service connection, with the Board finding that his right knee disability and obesity acted as intermediaries.

The Board has granted service connection for OSA, finding that the Veteran's current condition had its onset during his military service and resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.