Sleep apnea decisions — 2024

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain is found to be at least as likely as not incurred in service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that a VA examination and etiology opinion are needed to determine the etiology of obstructive sleep apnea, as well as whether it is caused or aggravated by service-connected disabilities. The case is being remanded for these purposes.

The Veteran's claim regarding the withholding of VA disability compensation benefits for 63 training days in FY 2019 is dismissed because she already received the adjustment and reimbursement.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's sleep apnea and his service, as well as whether it is aggravated by PTSD. The case will be returned for further development.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates earlier than March 20, 2019 for service connection for lumbar spine disability and left lower extremity radiculopathy are denied.,The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than November 25, 2019 for service connection for left knee disability is denied.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy are being remanded for further evaluation due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the severity of his conditions prior to certain dates.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is related to his military service and remanded for further examination.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the cause of the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea and its aggravation by his service-connected PTSD with alcohol use disorder and bruxism.

The Board has remanded the case due to errors in fulfilling its duty to assist, particularly regarding opinions on whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is secondary to his service-connected PTSD and due to herbicide exposure. The examiner must provide separate findings and rationales for both causation and aggravation.

The Board has dismissed all service connection claims due to the Veteran's death.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for cervical strain. The claim for service connection for sleep apnea is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's symptoms began during his active military service and resolving reasonable doubt in his favor.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient development of evidence, particularly regarding the etiology of the Veteran's sleep apnea and whether his obesity is an intermediate step between his service-connected disabilities and his sleep apnea.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for allergic rhinitis is granted due to exposure to fine particulate matter during Gulf War service. The claims for PTSD and sleep apnea are remanded.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed disabilities, including hypertension, skin disorder, sleep apnea, arthritis of the cervical spine, arthritis of the left knee, arthritis of the right hip, and removal of gall bladder, all allegedly due to exposure during Project SHAD. The Board found that there was no clear evidence of specific health effects associated with Project SHAD participation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and lung condition were denied. The Board found insufficient evidence to support a diagnosis of either condition, with the exception of obstructive sleep apnea which was diagnosed in 2015. Lung condition was not supported by objective medical evidence.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for obstructive sleep apnea is remanded due to the possibility of relevant SSA records not being in the file.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is granted as secondary to his service-connected PTSD. The rating for his PTSD remains at 50 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the claims for hypertension, sleep apnea, and Type II diabetes mellitus as secondary to service-connected osteoarthritis of the right hip due to inadequate VA medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to inadequate VA examinations and incomplete TERA memoranda. The Veteran's exposure history is unclear, and further development is needed.