Sleep apnea decisions — 2024

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea and an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding no current disability during the appeal period.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea is granted. The rating reduction of PTSD and the issue of a higher disability rating prior to September 27, 2019 are both remanded.

The Veteran's left lower extremity radiculopathy is now rated at 40 percent effective July 11, 2022.,Her lumbosacral degenerative disc disease remains rated at 40 percent.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions regarding whether obstructive sleep apnea is related to service and/or secondary to service-connected allergic rhinitis. The Veteran's wife and a fellow service member testified about snoring/breathing symptoms in the early 1990s, but VA examiners have not adequately addressed this evidence.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA spine examination to determine if any current cervical spine disorders are related to service. The acquired psychiatric disorder and obstructive sleep apnea claims have been granted.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding service connection for DM and OSA. The claims for left knee disorder and CV disorder are not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's claims for migraines, bilateral hearing loss, sleep apnea, and vitamin deficiency have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeals.,The Veteran's claim for an acquired psychiatric condition (to include PTSD) has been granted. The Board found that there is at least approximate balance of evidence to support a link between the Veteran's current psychiatric disabilities and his in-service stressors.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete development and lack of medical opinions. The appeals are pending until further action is taken.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that there is no evidence of in-service disease or injury related to OSA and concluding that the condition did not manifest during service. The Board also found that the Veteran's current OSA is more likely due to obesity rather than his military service.

The Board has determined that the VA examination opinions are inadequate and remanded for further development, including obtaining an addendum medical opinion to address the etiology of the Veteran's OSA.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no current disability meeting VA criteria.,The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus is denied as the maximum schedular rating has been assigned.,The Veteran's claims for PTSD, lumbar spine disability, right lower extremity radiculopathy, right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome (right knee disability), left ankle sprain, and ingrown right great toenail are remanded due to insufficient evidence of a current disability or service connection.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disorder is also remanded as the opinion provided by the VA examiner was inadequate.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete records and need for medical opinions regarding the etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to asbestos exposure, including for PTSD and sleep apnea. The issues are related to hazardous exposures during his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea with CPAP machine due to inadequate medical opinions and further development is required.

The Veteran's low back disability and related sciatic radiculopathies of the left and right lower extremities are rated at a 20 percent for lumbosacral strain with L5 herniated nucleus pulposus and intervertebral disc syndrome (low back disability) from September 8, 2015. The Veteran's low back disability is also rated at a 60 percent based on incapacitating episodes of IVDS since October 30, 2019.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected PTSD, finding that the current condition is at least as likely as not caused by and aggravated by his PTSD.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, finding that there was no evidence to support a nexus between his current diagnosis and service. The Board also found insufficient evidence to establish secondary service connection due to environmental exposures or a service-connected acquired psychiatric disability.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's sleep apnea, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to a need for new medical opinions regarding the etiology of OSA, left knee disorder, and respiratory disorder.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches secondary to his cervical spine disability is granted. Other issues are remanded, and the effective date of TDIU is set prior to February 23, 2018.