Sleep apnea decisions — 2024

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, finding that the evidence is approximately evenly balanced as to whether these conditions had their onset in service.

The Veteran's appeal for diabetes mellitus is dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal.,The claims for PTSD, sleep apnea, and restless leg syndrome of the bilateral lower extremities are reopened. The Board will remand these issues to obtain additional medical opinions regarding service connection.,The claim for erectile dysfunction is also remanded due to its inextricability with the psychiatric disorder issue.,The Veteran's appeal for diabetes mellitus is dismissed, and his claims for PTSD, sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome of the bilateral lower extremities, and erectile dysfunction are reopened. The Board will remand these issues to obtain additional medical opinions regarding service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate previous VA opinions and failure to comply with prior remand directives. The Veteran's sleep disorder, including obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), is being reviewed for service connection, as well as his nonservice-connected pension benefits claim.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including back pain, sleep apnea, and anxiety/panic attacks, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability (TDIU) effective October 12, 2018.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for lumbar spine and cervical spine disabilities, but denied both on the merits due to lack of evidence linking current disabilities to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing or maintaining a substantially gainful occupation from August 25, 2015 to January 16, 2018. The Board granted a TDIU during this period.

The appeal for sleep apnea and increased rating for left ulnar nerve neuropathy has been dismissed.,The right wrist disability, cervical spine disability, and GERD (hiatal hernia) claims have been reopened and are being remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient development of evidence regarding whether the Veteran's current obstructive sleep apnea is caused by or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and allergic rhinitis.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions and incomplete analysis. The claims will be reconsidered with consideration of all evidence, including lay statements.

The Board has decided that the Veteran does not have a current disability for service connection of bilateral hearing loss. The remaining issues on appeal are remanded due to insufficient evidence and need further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of her right knee, thoracic spine, and sleep apnea disabilities. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and sleep apnea have been dismissed due to his death. The Board has no jurisdiction to proceed with these appeals as the appellant (Veteran) is deceased.

The Veteran's cervical strain and lumbosacral strain have been granted service connection. Other conditions are remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim of service connection for a lumbar disability, to include as secondary to her service-connected bilateral knee patellofemoral pain syndrome and instability, is remanded due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current stomach or skin conditions related to service. The claims for bilateral knee strain, right shoulder rotator cuff tendinosis and acromioclavicular joint arthritis (AC-joint), chronic elbow strain, and low back degenerative disc disease are remanded due to outstanding medical questions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's sleep apnea was incurred in service or related to exposure to environmental hazards, specifically Gulf War syndrome.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities caused or aggravated his obesity, which in turn may have caused or aggravated his sleep apnea.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates are being remanded due to the need for updated VA medical records and additional examinations.,The Veteran is seeking higher initial ratings for his service-connected sleep apnea, voiding dysfunction, bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, and hypertension.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a sleep disorder and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to insufficient development, including the need for VA examinations.

The Board has restored service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that the original grant of service connection was not clearly and unmistakably erroneous.