Sleep apnea decisions — 2024

The Veteran's sleep apnea is found to have had its onset during his service, and the Board granted service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that it did not manifest in service and is not related to any disease or injury during service. The Board also noted that there was no chronicity of symptoms during service.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is granted as secondary to service-connected PTSD. The other issues are remanded for further development and consideration.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have precluded him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for sleep apnea, which is secondary to a service-connected neuropsychiatric condition including PTSD, and for TDIU due to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities. The VA will obtain additional medical records, translate Spanish documents, complete a toxic exposure risk activity (TERA) memorandum, and schedule a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the sleep apnea.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining a sleep study report and providing an addendum VA medical opinion.

The Board has remanded several claims for additional development due to the submission of new evidence, including VA treatment records and examination reports. The Veteran did not respond to a request to waive review by the AOJ.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, type II and obstructive sleep apnea due to inadequate VA examinations. The Veteran needs a new examination to determine if his conditions are related to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's service-connected disabilities and his obstructive sleep apnea, as well as the potential impact of non-deployment related toxic exposure.

The Board denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis is not related to his in-service symptoms and does not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's OSA is granted as service connected, and his CFS claim is denied. The left shoulder disability remains at a 20% rating.

The Board denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding no in-service injury or disease related to the condition and insufficient evidence linking any current symptoms to service.

The Veteran's service-connected MDD is granted, and his back disability remains at a 20 percent rating. The left ankle posttraumatic synovitis continues to be rated at 10 percent.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development, including obtaining medical opinions and records to determine if his OSA is related to service-connected disabilities or toxic exposure risk activities (TERAs).

The Veteran's sinus condition with turbinate hypertrophy and septal deviation has resolved before the appeal period. The Board denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea due to lack of a nexus between the condition and his service-connected allergic rhinitis.

The Veteran's service connection claims for a back disorder, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and hypertension have been denied. The effective date of the TDIU award is June 1, 2017.,Service connection was not granted for PTSD as it did not meet the criteria for direct or secondary service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's symptoms during active duty are at least as likely as not early manifestations of this condition.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU from March 5, 2023, to August 3, 2023, due to his service-connected disabilities including ischemic heart disease and lumbosacral strain. The Board found that the Veteran's disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD symptoms do not more nearly approximate total occupational and social impairment, warranting a disability rating in excess of 70 percent.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), finding that additional medical opinions are needed to address the etiology of these conditions, given the Veteran's service in Vietnam and his reported exposure to herbicide agents.