Sleep apnea decisions — 2024

The Board dismissed the appeals of entitlement to increased disability ratings, initial compensable ratings, and initial disability ratings for lumbosacral strain, chronic rhinitis, and headaches. The appeal of service connection for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and left thumb scar was also dismissed.

The Board has granted service connection for OSA and hypertension as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected chronic rhinosinusitis and deviated septum. However, a compensable rating for his deviated septum is denied.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a stroke or its residuals, nor any sleep apnea, during the pendency of the claim. The Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that it is at least as likely as not proximately due to the Veteran's service-connected deviated nasal septum with rhinitis and his service-connected right hip disabilities with obesity as an intermediate step.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's sleep apnea is service connected as secondary to his PTSD. However, due to incomplete opinions from a VA examiner, the case is being sent back for further evaluation.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder with major depressive disorder.

The Veteran's sleep apnea disability is at least as likely as not caused by his service connected psychiatric, back, and lower extremity disabilities. The Board granted the claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for migraine headaches, OSA, and GERD due to potential exposure to burn pits during his military service. The RO is required to provide a VA examination and medical nexus opinion regarding these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) likely began during his active-duty service and grants entitlement to service connection for OSA.

The appeal is dismissed due to the Veteran's death, and no service connection claim was decided.

The Board has remanded the claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder and obstructive sleep apnea due to potential errors in adjudication.

The Board has determined that the claim for service connection for OSA must be remanded due to a duty-to-assist error, specifically regarding an inadequate medical opinion on the etiology of the Veteran's OSA.

The Veteran's back disability, diagnosed as lumbosacral strain, is found to have begun during active service and has been recurrent since then. Service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine is related to his active-duty service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded two issues: service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and the effective date of prostate cancer. The Veteran's OSA claim is related to his service-connected acquired psychiatric disorders, while his prostate cancer may be due to exposure to smoke pits during his deployment in Iraq.

The Veteran's ratings for cervical strain, left shoulder impingement syndrome, and lumbosacral strain were reduced from their previous levels due to improvement in the disability. The appeal is denied as these reductions are proper.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus type II, finding that the evidence is at least in approximate balance as to whether the Veteran's sleep apnea was proximately due to his service-connected diabetes.

The Veteran's service connection claims for cervical strain, lumbosacral strain, and migraine headaches have been dismissed.,Service connection has been granted for adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood.

The Board has remanded the case due to duty-to-assist errors regarding the relationship between the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability, tinnitus, and OSA. The Veteran contends that his current OSA was caused or aggravated by his service-connected lumbar spine disability and tinnitus.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is granted as secondary to PTSD. Left ear sensorineural hearing loss is granted, while right ear sensorineural hearing loss and headaches are denied.