Sleep apnea decisions — 2024

The Veteran's claim for OSA was granted with an effective date of October 31, 2013. The rating for the right-hand little finger injury remains noncompensable. The claims for eczema and low back strain are remanded.

The Veteran's back condition is granted service connection, while the frostbite residuals of the bilateral feet are remanded for further review.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date before February 13, 2018, for service connection of obstructive sleep apnea was denied. The Board also remanded the issues related to traumatic brain injury reduction and other disability ratings.

The Veteran's lung cancer, right knee strain, and left knee strain are not service-connected. The lumbosacral strain is rated at 20 percent.

The Veteran's appeals for higher ratings in several service-connected disabilities are remanded due to the need for updated VA examinations and treatment records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's OSA is related to service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate compliance with prior remand instructions, specifically regarding medical opinions for sleep apnea. The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, low back disability, and hypertension are being considered as potential causes or aggravators of his sleep apnea.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to a lack of evidence meeting VA criteria for hearing loss.,The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right knee disability, gout, acid reflux (GERD), and sleep disorder (including sleep apnea and insomnia) as well as hypertension.

The Board denied service connection for a skin disorder, but granted service connection for sleep apnea. The skin disorder claim was based on direct evidence and not due to Persian Gulf War exposure.,Service connection was granted for sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD.

The Board has ordered a VA medical opinion to determine if the Veteran's headache disorder is at least as likely as not caused or aggravated by his service-connected obstructive sleep apnea, TBI, and/or acquired psychiatric disorder. The remand requires completion of this order.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the claims for hypertension, migraine headaches, and obstructive sleep apnea due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their relationship to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is related to his service-connected PTSD and if it was caused by obesity.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability has been reopened and granted. The claims for service connection for OSA, increased rating for lumbosacral strain, initial ratings for RLE sciatic radiculopathy (prior to October 12, 2018) and LLE sciatic radiculopathy (post October 12, 2018), TDIU based solely on an acquired psychiatric disorder, SMC at the housebound rate, and basic eligibility to DEA under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 35 have all been granted.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD due to MST is granted, and his previously denied claim of service connection for a bilateral ankle disability is reopened. The case is remanded for further evaluation.

The appeal for service connection for sleep apnea is dismissed. The appeals for the remaining conditions are remanded.

The Veteran's OSA is granted as due to his service-connected multiple sclerosis. The Veteran's erectile dysfunction is remanded for an additional medical opinion.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is related to service and whether his service-connected conditions aggravate it.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for his service-connected lumbosacral spine disability, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy ratings as they were initially assigned on January 9, 2019.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea. Additional development is needed, including obtaining a VA medical opinion to determine if the condition is related to service.