Sleep apnea decisions — 2024

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left inguinal groin disability and obstructive sleep apnea due to incomplete development. The Veteran is not entitled to service connection for his left inguinal groin disability as there is no evidence of a current disability related to an in-service injury or event, nor is it at least as likely as not related to any etiology. For the obstructive sleep apnea claim, additional examination and opinion are needed regarding whether it had its onset during service, is secondary to his service-connected disabilities (including obesity), and if so, whether it would have occurred without the service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's lumbosacral spine disorder is related to service, and the Board finds in favor of granting service connection. The cervical spine disorder issue has been remanded due to insufficient competent medical evidence.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that it is not attributable to active military service and has not been caused or aggravated by her service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

The Board denied service connection for a thoracic spine condition and denied an increased rating for lumbosacral strain, finding that the evidence did not support the Veteran's claims.

The Veteran's migraines are found to be aggravated by service, and she is granted service connection for them. A 10 percent rating for tinnitus is granted. The lumbosacral strain claim is remanded due to increased symptoms not addressed in the previous examination. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition (to include PTSD) and hearing loss are also remanded as new evidence or clarification of medical opinions may be needed. The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to unresolved issues with her service-connected conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for a skin disorder and sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's conditions are related to his military service. The decision is based on evidence of current disabilities and in-service exposure, with reasonable doubt resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is associated with his service-connected conditions, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition on a secondary basis.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's appeal for additional medical opinions regarding his fatigue, multiple sclerosis, and sleep apnea. The issues of service connection for these conditions are now pending.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right foot disability, finding that his obesity caused by his service-connected right foot disability was a substantial factor in causing his current diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea.

The petition to reopen a claim for service connection for memory loss was dismissed.,A new and material evidence has been received, allowing the reopening of a claim for service connection for a back disorder. Service connection is granted for degenerative arthritis of the spine.,Service connection is denied for residuals of frostbite as there is no diagnosis of such during or approximate to the current claim period.,The petition to reopen a claim for service connection for OSA was not addressed due to insufficient evidence, and remanded.,The petition to reopen a claim for service connection for HTN was not addressed due to insufficient evidence, and remanded.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn for issues of service connection and ratings for various conditions. The Board is remanding several cases for further development.,The Veteran's bilateral pes planus, heart disorder, cervical spine disorder, migraine headaches, sleep apnea, erectile dysfunction (ED), left knee disorder (secondary to right knee disability), bilateral thumb disorders, bilateral index finger disorders, bilateral little finger disorders, bilateral middle finger disorders, bilateral ring finger disorders, bilateral shoulder disorder, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities (secondary to lumbar spine disability), and bilateral elbow disorder are all being remanded for further examination and evidence collection.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is related to his active service and if it is related to herbicide agent exposure during service.

Your claim for service connection for sleep apnea has already been fully addressed in a previous Board decision. This case is being dismissed as the issue of service connection for sleep apnea is now pending in another appeal.

The Veteran's current OSA is caused by his service-connected TBI, and the claim for service connection for OSA as secondary to TBI is granted. The case is remanded for a new VA examination to determine the current disability evaluation of his TBI.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings for lumbosacral strain with degenerative joint and disc disease, left lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy, and right lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy due to outstanding VA treatment records.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to obtain a VA medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is related to her service-connected PTSD and if so, whether it was caused or aggravated by her PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for irritable bowel syndrome, hernia, bilateral vision loss, and a bilateral toenail condition were dismissed. The claim for sleep apnea was reopened and granted as secondary to PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and an examination to determine if the Veteran's PTSD is related to a verified in-service stressor. Service connection will be granted for depression and sleep apnea, but service connection for PTSD remains pending.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, bilateral knee pain, and obstructive sleep apnea have been reopened due to the submission of new evidence.,Service connection has been granted for obstructive sleep apnea.

The Veteran was granted TDIU for the period between February 21, 2013, to May 15, 2014.,TDIU was denied for the period from May 16, 2014, to August 31, 2020. The Veteran's combined rating at this time did not meet the criteria for TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities.