Sleep apnea decisions — 2024

The Veteran's claim for an effective date of June 28, 2012, for the grant of a 20% rating for lumbosacral strain, degenerative arthritis of the spine, and intervertebral disc syndrome has been granted.

The Veteran is granted an initial 30 percent rating for sleep apnea prior to September 14, 2015. The claim for a higher rating from September 14, 2015, is denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further examination and opinion regarding service connection for OSA and a low back disorder. The claim of left ankle achilles tendonitis remains denied.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, back pain, sleep problems/sleep apnea, and left shoulder pain are all found to be related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbosacral strain and left knee strain have been denied. The Board found that the Veteran's range of motion did not meet criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and deviated nasal septum and status post septoplasty have been granted. The Board found that the evidence was approximately evenly balanced as to whether these conditions had their onset during service, and thus granted service connection based on this balance in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding whether his sleep apnea, diabetes mellitus type 2, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, and bilateral foot condition are related to or aggravated by his service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient opinions regarding service connection for obesity and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) due to PTSD and related medications. The Veteran's attorney provided additional medical evidence, which was not considered in the previous opinions.

The Veteran's service connection for obstructive sleep apnea has been granted. The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for a lumbar spine disability, left knee osteoarthritis, and right knee osteoarthritis with meniscal tear and chondromalacia.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims, including a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected lumbar spine disability and lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection. The claims for a skin disability, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), left foot disability, low back disability, right knee disability, and left knee disability are all remanded for further examination and analysis.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is granted as secondary to his service-connected depressive disorder.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic fatigue, finding that her symptoms are attributable to her service-connected obstructive sleep apnea and not a separate disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinion regarding whether the Veteran's sleep apnea condition is aggravated by his service-connected sinusitis, deviated septum with rhinitis, and asthma. The case needs further development including obtaining additional VA treatment records and scheduling an examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea has been reopened, and the Board finds that new evidence supports this reopening. The Board also determined that the Veteran is entitled to service connection for his sleep apnea as secondary to obesity, which was caused by his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for sleep apnea and low back disability has been reopened, but the claims are still pending as new evidence did not establish a current disability or link to service.,The Veteran's claim for chronic sinusitis is being remanded due to its potential secondary relationship with his sleep apnea.

The Board denied entitlement to TDIU prior to January 6, 2021 due to the appellant's service-connected disabilities not meeting the percentage requirements for a TDIU. From January 6, 2021, the issue was moot as the appellant received a 100% rating and SMC based on housebound status.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for right hand carpal tunnel syndrome is denied as he does not have a current diagnosis of the condition. The claim for service connection for sleep apnea is remanded due to lack of a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder to include depression, sleep apnea and bilateral knee disabilities have been reopened. The Board finds that more development is necessary prior to final adjudication of these claims.,The Veteran should be scheduled for a VA examination to determine the etiology of his claimed acquired psychiatric disorder to include depression disability.

The Veteran's DMII and hypertension were granted service connection due to in-service herbicide agent exposure.,Her glaucoma, sleep apnea, lung condition (including COPD and asthma), GERD, breast cancer, IBS, endocrinopathy, hypothyroidism, tinnitus, blood clots, heart condition, and bilateral hearing loss were all remanded for further development due to insufficient evidence.