Sleep apnea decisions — 2024

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea. The claim will be adjudicated based on direct service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea has been reopened and granted. The issue of service connection for a low back disability is remanded.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeal for service connection of sleep apnea. The TDIU claim was granted, and a remand was ordered for a new VA examination regarding bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was rated as noncompensable prior to January 19, 2023 and at a 10 percent rating since then.,The Veteran's back disability remains unconnected to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient consideration of the Veteran's lay statements regarding his sleep apnea and obesity, as well as incomplete medical records. The Veteran's service-connected depression is also considered in relation to his obesity.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is granted service connection. The lung disability and obstructive sleep apnea are denied service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea is remanded due to the need for an addendum opinion regarding the onset and continuity of symptoms related to his deployment in Southwest Asia, including exposure to environmental hazards.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for back pain and associated radiculopathies have been granted with effective dates of July 10, 1994.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for an addendum opinion regarding whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is related to service, including his in-service symptoms and weight.

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

Service connection for sinusitis is granted. Service connection for a left shoulder disability, spinal injury, gastrointestinal reflux disease (GERD), skin disability, and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are remanded.

The Board has found the VA medical opinions inadequate and remanded for further development, including a new VA spine examination to address tingling, numbness, and muscle spasms in the Veteran's legs due to his back condition, and additional VA medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's OSA is proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of his claimed disabilities. The AOJ is required to obtain further examinations and opinions on the nature and etiology of each disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and evaluation.

The Board has granted service connection for OSA and IBS, finding that these conditions are proximately due to the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus type II.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a cervical spine disability and obstructive sleep apnea to ensure that there is a complete record upon which to decide the Veteran's claim and to afford him every possible consideration.

The Veteran's back disability and lower extremity radiculopathies have been rated based on their severity, with some separate ratings for specific nerves involved. The initial rating of 40% has been granted from October 14, 2020, to February 27, 2023, for the back disability and lower extremity radiculopathies.

The Board denied service connection for TBI, lumbosacral spine disability, bilateral shoulder disability, and bilateral knee disability. The Veteran's claims were not granted as the evidence did not support a finding of current disabilities related to active service or an undiagnosed illness.

The Board has remanded the case for further development regarding service connection for sleep apnea and TDIU. The Veteran's representative argued that there is a relationship between his MDD and sleep apnea, but the VA examiner did not provide sufficient reasoning in their opinion.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left wrist carpal tunnel syndrome, an eye condition (to include vision problems), breathing problems, a left knee condition, a right knee condition, a right ankle condition, sleep apnea, and skin rash have been dismissed as the Veteran did not appeal these issues in his VA Form 9.