Sleep apnea decisions — 2024

The Board dismissed the appeal for service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to PTSD because the Veteran did not timely file a VA Form 10182 with the appropriate docket election.

The Board has granted service connection for erectile dysfunction as secondary to a service-connected back disability and denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea. The Veteran's rating for his back disability remains at 20 percent.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected PTSD, finding that the evidence supports this conclusion.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, warranting TDIU.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, secondary to his service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), with obesity as an intermediate step. The evidence shows that PTSD caused or aggravated the Veteran's obesity, which in turn caused or aggravated his OSA.

The Veteran's service connection for sleep apnea, including as secondary to his service-connected disabilities of degenerative disc disease, lumbar spine with spinal fusion and bilateral knee degenerative arthritis, is denied because the evidence does not support a finding that obesity (an intermediate step) was caused or aggravated by these service-connected conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for further examination and review of evidence regarding whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea had its onset in service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's Obstructive Sleep Apnea and his service, particularly related to exposure to burn pits. The VA will need to conduct additional development including verifying exposures and obtaining medical opinions.

The Veteran submitted new evidence showing a relationship between his OSA, obesity, and service-connected bilateral knee disability. The AOJ has not yet readjudicated the claim on the merits.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination as they are not adequately addressed in the current record.

The Veteran's PTSD with depressive disorder is currently rated as 70 percent disabling, but the Board finds that this rating adequately reflects his disability level and does not warrant a higher evaluation. The lumbosacral degenerative joint disease with L1 compression fracture is also rated at 40 percent, which the Board deems appropriate based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran's service-connected somatic symptom disorder is found to be the proximate cause of her obstructive sleep apnea, and thus she has been granted service connection for this condition on a secondary basis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of obstructive sleep apnea, finding no in-service incident or injury to which his current condition could be linked.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of a VA examination for direct service connection and an inadequate TERA-related medical opinion. The appellant's claim will be reconsidered with these issues addressed.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical spine strain and lumbosacral strain, effective February 8, 1990. The radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities is also service connected as secondary to these conditions.

The Board has granted an earlier effective date of September 23, 2021 for the award of service connection for migraine headaches and a TDIU due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted the appellant's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as secondary to his service-connected other specified trauma and stressor related disorder.

The Veteran's service connection claims for sleep apnea, autoimmune disease (rheumatoid arthritis), asthma, hypertension, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) are remanded due to a failure to provide a VA examination regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 10 percent, and her migraine headaches are granted an initial 50 percent rating. The Board denied the increased rating for the lumbar spine disability.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's service connection claim for obstructive sleep apnea should be remanded due to inadequate reasoning in the VA examiner's opinion.