Sleep apnea decisions — 2024

The Board has determined that the September 2020 rating decision denying service connection for sleep apnea is flawed due to inadequate examination and opinion regarding whether the Veteran's allergic rhinitis aggravated her sleep apnea. The case is being remanded for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection of GERD, lumbosacral strain, right, knee strain, and tinnitus are denied.,The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating prior to September 8, 2018, for benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) is also denied.

The Veteran's claims for hypertension, sinus disorder, and obstructive sleep apnea have been granted. Hypertension is presumed to be related to herbicide exposure during service. The sinus disorder and obstructive sleep apnea are considered to have started during service.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the claim of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea due to insufficient evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression, and sleep apnea. The evidence did not support a finding of current DSM-5 diagnoses or a causal relationship to service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection of OSA as secondary to his service-connected PTSD. The medical opinions provided by both a Physician Assistant and a Doctor support that the Veteran's OSA is due to or caused by his PTSD.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty-to-assist error in not considering whether the Veteran's OSA is aggravated by his service-connected PTSD.

The appeal for service connection for right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy and left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy is dismissed as the benefits have been granted.,The appeal for service connection for OSA is denied.,The appeal for an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD is dismissed as moot.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is caused by his service-connected deviated septum status post-nasal fracture, and thus grants service connection for OSA as secondary to this condition.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinions and the need for a toxic exposure risk activity (TERA) opinion. The Veteran's OSA is being reviewed in relation to service, service-connected conditions, and potential TERA participation.

The Board has granted service connection for the appellant's Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) as it was caused and aggravated by his service-connected Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea began during his period of active duty and is therefore service-connected.

The Veteran requested to withdraw his appeal regarding the issues of service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome and sleep apnea. As a result, the Board dismissed the appeal.

The Veteran's service connection claims for migraines and sleep apnea secondary to PTSD are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's appeals for earlier effective dates and increased ratings are denied. The Board found that the criteria for an earlier effective date were not met in several cases, including TDIU, DEA benefits, service connection for coronary artery disease, SMC under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s), and sleep apnea.,The Veteran's PTSD with secondary alcohol abuse in remission and bipolar disorder is rated at the maximum available rating of 70%.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between his current condition and his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, hypertension (claimed as high blood pressure), and chronic headaches.,There is no evidence of any sleep issues or elevated blood pressure in service. The Veteran was not diagnosed with these conditions until years after separation from active duty.

The Veteran's claims for right and left ear hearing loss disabilities, Morton's neuroma of the left foot (status post-surgical removal), and obstructive sleep apnea have been remanded. The effective date for an increased rating of 20 percent for left shoulder strain disability is set at February 20, 2019.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea likely began during his military service and continues to this day, granting service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's PTSD and unspecified depressive disorder are related to an in-service stressor, his OSA is proximately due to his service-connected knee disability, but he does not have BHL for VA purposes.