Sleep apnea decisions — 2024

The Board has remanded several claims, including reopening of service connection claims for various conditions and rating the duodenal ulcer. Additional records are needed to confirm military service periods and obtain missing treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability has been granted. The Veteran is also granted an initial compensable rating for their RUE and LUE thoracic outlet syndrome, but the claims are remanded due to new evidence indicating worsening symptoms.

The Board has granted secondary service connection for OSA as caused by the Veteran's PTSD, finding that there is an approximate balance of positive and negative evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for obstructive sleep apnea and fibroids due to insufficient medical opinions addressing her service connection claims. The Veteran is seeking service connection for these conditions, which she contends are related to her military service, particularly her deployment to Somalia in 1992-1993.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, restless leg syndrome, sleep apnea, and celiac disease are being remanded due to the submission of new evidence.,Further development is needed to determine if the Veteran has a current diagnosis of an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea has been reopened, and he is now granted service connection for asthma. The Board has also remanded the issues of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, PTSD, PSVT, and TDIU.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for PTSD, lumbosacral strain, right knee strain, left knee strain, and anemia due to missing VA medical records and the need for updated examinations. The effective date is not addressed in this decision.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection of bilateral knee and ankle disabilities due to insufficient medical guidance on their etiology.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals of the denial of service connection for various conditions and ratings, leading to the dismissal of these legacy appeals.

The claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions regarding the Veteran's PTSD, right ankle condition, bilateral hearing loss, left ankle condition (secondary to a right ankle condition), and sleep-related condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him so helpless as to be in need of regular aid and attendance, leading to the grant of SMC based on aid and attendance.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including left ankle, shoulder, elbow, forearm, wrist, hand, right ankle, sleep apnea, bilateral knee disabilities, sinusitis, and PTSD. The issues have been remanded for further development in several cases.

The Board has determined that the VA examination report is incomplete and remands the case for a new examination to determine the etiology of the Veteran's sleep apnea, including whether it is related to service or any service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection on multiple conditions is being remanded due to the need for VA examinations and medical opinions. The claims include asthma, chronic rhinitis, chronic sinusitis, a skin condition, sleep apnea (to include as secondary to PTSD), GERD, low back disability, neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, and tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's service-connected conditions and his sleep apnea, specifically whether they cause or aggravate his condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) has been denied as it is not secondary to a service-connected condition or caused by an in-service injury.,The Veteran's claim for TDIU prior to April 9, 2022, has also been denied due to the presence of other service-connected disabilities that allow him to engage in substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss, tinnitus, left ear hearing loss, OSA, and hypertension are not granted. The case is REMANDED to obtain additional medical opinions regarding these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbar spine condition and obstructive sleep apnea, both related to his service-connected cervical spine disability, is being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a skin condition and sleep apnea due to inadequate medical opinions. The remand requires additional opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions, specifically addressing toxic exposure risk activities (TERAs) including burn pits, Camp Lejeune contaminated water, and other toxins. Additionally, it requests an opinion on whether the Veteran's service-connected chronic cough may aggravate his sleep apnea.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from following a substantially gainful occupation for which his education and occupational experience would otherwise qualify from July 12, 2013 to May 3, 2018.