Sleep apnea decisions — 2024

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, and the Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to support his claims. The Veteran is now granted service connection for hypertension (HTN), erectile dysfunction (ED), a respiratory condition including bronchial asthma/COPD, a lumbar spine disability, restless leg syndrome of both lower extremities, gout, and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

The Veteran's low back condition is rated at 40 percent, and the Board has granted a 20 percent rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy and left lower extremity radiculopathy. The appeal regarding service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and erectile dysfunction is remanded.

The Veteran's visual disorientation, claimed as photophobia, is granted as it is related to his service-connected TBI.,The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is granted as secondary to his service-connected PTSD and alcohol disorder with TBI.,The Veteran's headaches are granted as they are related to his service-connected TBI.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The appeal for service connection for OSA, including as secondary to chronic adjustment disorder, is remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete adjudication, and requires issuance of a supplemental statement of the case (SSOC).

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for new examinations to assess the current severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has found that the remand directives were not substantially complied with and thus another remand is warranted for further development regarding service connection claims for obstructive sleep apnea, peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities, and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities.

Your claim for service connection for sleep apnea has been granted, and you are now entitled to benefits. The appeal is dismissed as the issue is no longer in dispute.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate addendum opinions regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The case is now returned for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is related to his service-connected disabilities, specifically obesity and other conditions.

The Veteran's tinnitus is not related to his active service, and he does not have a compensable initial rating for his tinea pedis. The Board has also remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for erectile dysfunction and spider bite reoccurring poison.,The Veteran reported being admitted to the hospital at Ft. Stewart, Georgia for what was thought to be a spider bite on his finger during active service.

The claim for service connection for sleep apnea was reopened and remanded for a new medical examination or opinion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for lumbosacral spine degenerative disc disease, left wrist condition, left hand condition, and left hip condition due to incomplete or speculative medical opinions. The TDIU claim is also being remanded.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that his current diagnosis and in-service symptoms support this determination.

The Veteran's bilateral retinitis pigmentosa and acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) are granted as service-connected. The Board found that the Veteran had a current disability, established continuity of symptoms since service, and provided sufficient medical evidence to establish a relationship between his in-service stressor and his current conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder. The Right Knee Disability issue is remanded.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 20 percent from September 6, 2011 to September 19, 2023 and at 40 percent from September 20, 2023 to the present. The Board denied higher ratings for these periods.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her cervical and lumbar spine disabilities, finding that they did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under the applicable rating schedule.

The Veteran's application to reopen his claim of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea was granted. Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, as secondary to service-connected PTSD, is also granted. A TDIU and SMC at the housebound rate from August 2, 2019 are granted.

The Veteran seeks earlier effective dates for service connection of right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, as well as lumbosacral strain. The Board finds that an effective date of April 25, 2016 is warranted for the Veteran's bilateral lower radiculopathy.,The Veteran also seeks higher disability ratings for his back and leg conditions. The Board finds a remand necessary to determine the current severity of these disabilities.