Sleep apnea decisions — 2024

The Board has denied service connection for arthralgias, multiple sites, right shoulder joint pain, and left shoulder joint pain as there is no evidence of a current disability or in-service injury that would support these claims.,Service connection for sleep apnea and urticaria have been remanded due to insufficient opinions regarding the relationship between these conditions and service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service connection claims for hypertension, lumbosacral strain, and right leg neuralgia were denied. The Board found no evidence of a nexus between the disabilities and service or any service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for right shoulder disability, bilateral hearing loss, bilateral foot disorder, dental trauma upper front teeth, residuals of a broken nose, low back disability, sleep apnea, hypertension, and acquired psychiatric disorder due to insufficient evidence. Additional medical records are needed from Social Security Administration, and VA examinations are required for each issue.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including lumbosacral strain and stenosis with degenerative arthritis and intervertebral disc syndrome, right lower extremity neuropathy, and left lower extremity neuropathy, render him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder osteoarthritis, sleep disorder (to include sleep apnea), and left knee disorder have all been denied.,Service connection was not granted for a sleep disorder due to the lack of evidence showing it during or within one year after separation from service. The Board found that there is no competent medical evidence linking any current sleep disorder to service.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for left knee disorder was also denied as there is no evidence of a diagnosed condition during service and no competent medical evidence linking the current condition to service.

The Veteran's claims for hyperhidrosis, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, and hemorrhoids were dismissed. The Veteran's claim for service connection of hemorrhoids was granted.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) as secondary to her service-connected PTSD.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for his back disability, finding that it is related to injuries sustained during active duty.

The Board has denied service connection for sleep apnea and remanded the issues of rating PTSD. The Veteran's sleep apnea was not shown in service or for many years thereafter, and there is no probative evidence that it is related to his service or a service-connected disability.

The Board has determined that effective dates earlier than March 5, 2012 for tinnitus and cervical spine degenerative joint disease are not warranted.,An initial rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus is denied.,An initial rating in excess of 50 percent for obstructive sleep apnea is remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination regarding the relationship between the Veteran's service-connected PTSD and her obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The examiner was asked to determine if the PTSD caused obesity, which is a substantial factor in causing or aggravating OSA.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for major depressive disorder, obstructive sleep apnea, and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The Veteran needs to be examined by VA to determine the current severity of his MDD and whether it caused or aggravated obesity, which may affect his OSA. Additionally, a VA examination is needed to assess whether his MDD at least as likely as not caused his obesity and if any sleep apnea would have occurred without obesity.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's service connection claim for obstructive sleep apnea. The Veteran contends that his current condition is related to his military service and a service-connected disability, specifically posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, as secondary to his service-connected adjustment disorder, has been granted. The issues of entitlement to a higher rating for left wrist tenosynovitis and whether new evidence supports reopening claims for right knee and left knee disabilities have been remanded.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeals.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the onset and cause of the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea. The examiner was asked to provide a retrospective determination on whether the symptoms at the time of service were indicative of OSA, and to address whether the disability is proximately caused or aggravated by his service-connected back and right knee disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea. The issues of entitlement to service connection for skin cysts, a sinus disability and a back disability are remanded.

The Board denied higher ratings for the Veteran's service-connected low back disability, left lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy, and right lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy due to lack of evidence showing increased severity during the relevant periods.

The Board has granted service connection for OSA and secondary service connection for AF, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his in-service symptoms.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including left shoulder impingement syndrome with osteoarthritis, lumbosacral strain with mild degenerative disc disease, femoral radiculopathy of both lower extremities, and sciatic radiculopathy. The remand requests additional examinations to address functional impairment due to flare-ups and repetitive use.