Sleep apnea decisions — 2024

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment since December 19, 2012. The Board has granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee disabilities, bilateral plantar fasciitis, migraine headaches, and obstructive sleep apnea have been reopened. The appeals are granted as secondary to service-connected PTSD.,Secondary service connection is established for migraine headaches and obstructive sleep apnea due to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, and the Board finds that a compensable rating is not warranted.,The Veteran's lumbar spine disorder is currently rated at 20 percent. The Board has remanded for further examination to determine if a higher rating is warranted.,The Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy is currently rated as 20 percent, and the Board has remanded for further examination to determine if a higher rating is warranted.,The Veteran's left lower extremity radiculopathy is currently rated as 20 percent, and the Board has remanded for further examination to determine if a higher rating is warranted.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient opinions regarding service connection for OSA, particularly in relation to diabetes mellitus type II and herbicide agent exposure. The Veteran's OSA may be related to his active service or secondary to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a new medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is proximately due to his service-connected hypertension.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea was initially diagnosed during active duty and is now service-connected.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence in the VA medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's OSA began during service or is related to his service. A new VA medical opinion is needed.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and service connection claims have been remanded due to the need for additional examinations and evaluations.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate March 2018 examination, which did not address whether the Veteran's sleep apnea was aggravated by service-connected PTSD. The Veteran must be provided with a new VA examination and secondary service connection opinion.

The Board has granted a TDIU effective October 14, 2016, but not earlier. The Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral spine disability prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment since at least October 2016.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU from October 5, 2021 was denied as the evidence did not show he is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development and examination, including service connection claims for various psychiatric conditions, bilateral hip disability, joint pain, basal cell cancer residuals, and obstructive sleep apnea. The Veteran's service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations is recognized.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude her from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation, as she has maintained employment throughout the appeal period.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, major depressive disorder, and back conditions, precluded him from securing or following substantially gainful employment prior to July 9, 2018.

The Board has remanded the claims due to new evidence being obtained since the last decision in 2020. The Veteran's updated VA treatment records need to be reviewed and considered.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings and service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions. The Board is seeking more information on the severity of her lumbosacral strain, the nature of her cervical spine condition, and whether her bilateral ankle and shoulder conditions are related to service or secondary to other disabilities.

The Board has denied service connection for a sleep disorder, including obstructive sleep apnea and insomnia. The issues of peripheral neuropathy are also being remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability evaluations of his service-connected low back and related lower extremity radiculopathy disorders are being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including left and right knee conditions, low back condition, headache condition, and obstructive sleep apnea, are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, and obstructive sleep apnea was reopened due to new evidence. Service connection is granted for both conditions.