Sleep apnea decisions — 2024

The Board has found that there was not substantial compliance with its remand directives and has ordered additional development to address the Veteran's claim for service connection of sleep apnea.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, including as secondary to service-connected disabilities. The VA examiner's opinions were inadequate and a new opinion is required.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection of obstructive sleep apnea.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disorder and allergic rhinitis and sinusitis have been granted service connection.,A 20 percent disability rating, but no higher, has been granted for the Veteran's left thumb fracture.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were dismissed. The claim of service connection for PTSD was denied due to uncorroborated stressors, but the claim for bipolar disorder and other specified trauma- and stressor-related disorder was granted. The claim for heart disability (atrial fibrillation with bradycardia and coronary artery disease) resulted in a 60% rating.

The Board granted service connection for gout and denied it for bilateral hearing loss, while remanding the claims for left temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ), obstructive sleep apnea, Barrett's esophagus, and sinusitis.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to address the issue of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as secondary to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The March 2023 VA examination and September 2023 addendum did not adequately address this issue.

The Veteran's request for service connection for OSA was granted, and he is now rated at 20% for his right shoulder degenerative arthritis. The TDIU rating remains in effect. The case of chronic pancreatitis has been remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The issues include back disability, OSA, and GI disability.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, left foot disability, right hand disability, and right knee disability due to a full grant of benefits in a February 2021 rating decision. The appeals regarding obstructive sleep apnea and lower back disability are remanded.

The Board has determined that the development conducted does not adequately comply with the prior remand and thus, the case is being returned to the AOJ for further action.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including those for personality disorder, eating disorder, left and right ankle conditions with OA, right and left knee conditions with OA, OSA, hip strains, lumbar spine DDD, and neuropathy of the lower extremities. The reasons for remand include obtaining additional opinions regarding the etiology of these disabilities and whether they are related to service-connected disabilities or obesity.

The Board has granted service connection for back disability, sleep apnea, atrial fibrillation, heart murmur, asthma, and eczema. The Veteran's conditions are found to be related to his active duty service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea and his military service. The Veteran testified that he began experiencing sleeping issues during his time in the Persian Gulf, but did not report them at separation. A new VA examination is needed to determine if there is a nexus between the Veteran's current sleep apnea and his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, sleep apnea, and chronic renal disease have been reopened. Service connection has been granted for PTSD with an initial rating of 70 percent.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluations are being remanded due to the need for additional development regarding her sleep disability, right ankle sprain, left wrist sprain, right wrist sprain, and right knee sprain/strain.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities, as well as his right arm disability, sleep disorder, and GERD were denied due to lack of in-service injury or disease, no continuity of symptomatology, and insufficient evidence linking the conditions to service.,Service connection for traumatic brain injury (TBI), lumbar spine disability, dizziness, headaches, gastrointestinal disability (undiagnosed illness), and chronic fatigue syndrome was also denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate development of evidence regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected PTSD caused or aggravated his obesity, which in turn caused his obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, which is claimed as secondary to service-connected depressive disorder and chronic fatigue syndrome. The Veteran's claim will be further developed.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and an acquired psychiatric disability due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran.