Sleep apnea decisions — 2024

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of evidence regarding whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is related to his service-connected asthma. The Veteran needs to complete a sleep study and provide additional information.

The Veteran's tinnitus and lumbosacral spine condition are granted service connection. The tinnitus is linked to military service, while the lumbosacral spine condition is secondary to his service-connected knee disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased disability evaluations for lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease and arthritis, as well as left eye atrophy with visual field loss. The AOJ is instructed to obtain additional evidence including a retrospective medical opinion regarding the severity of her service-connected lumbar spine disability in light of Correia v. McDonald (2016), and another VA back examination report.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for sinusitis and sleep apnea due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's claim for sinusitis is denied, while his claim for sleep apnea is remanded for further development.

The Board has granted the reopening of the Veteran's claim for service connection for left knee arthritis and has also granted service connection for diabetes mellitus type 2 and obstructive sleep apnea, all secondary to his service-connected right knee disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is proximately due to his service-connected left leg disability, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty to assist error and the need for an addendum VA medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's sleep apnea and service, including exposure to burn pits.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) due to duty-to-assist errors. The VA must obtain an addendum opinion from a clinician regarding whether OSA is related to service or aggravated by a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claims for right ear hearing loss, diabetes mellitus II, left shoulder disability, and right shoulder disability have been denied as there is no persuasive evidence of a current disability.,The Veteran's claim for allergic rhinitis/sinusitis has been denied as there is no persuasive evidence of a current disability.,The Veteran's claims for hypertension and sleep apnea have been denied as there is no persuasive evidence of a current disability.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's current condition is at least as likely as not caused by his service-connected right knee condition. However, service connection for cardiomegaly was denied due to a lack of evidence supporting its diagnosis.,Service connection for cardiomegaly was denied because there is no persuasive medical evidence showing the Veteran has this condition or any related symptoms.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for Headache and Sleep Apnea due to potential secondary effects from his service-connected acquired psychiatric disability, coronary artery disease (CAD), and exposure to Gulf War substances. The appeal is also related to the PACT Act.

The Board has decided to remand all the claims for further development due to errors in obtaining medical records and military personnel records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's radiculopathy of the upper and lower extremities is related to his service-connected cervical strain and lumbosacral strain, but more opinions are needed to address whether these conditions were aggravated by those service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for OSA, but has remanded the issue of a higher rating for migraine headaches due to a duty to assist error.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for GERD, bilateral hearing loss, chest pain disorder, psychiatric disorder, left ankle disorder, right ankle disorder, sleep apnea, and tetanus has been denied as there is no current evidence of these conditions.,No medical professional provided a diagnosis or indicated that the Veteran had any of these conditions during his military service.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus and obstructive sleep apnea, finding that the conditions were not incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board dismissed the appeal regarding a proposal to sever service connection for sleep apnea syndromes because it was not a final decision and therefore could not be appealed.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional medical opinions to address whether the Veteran's PTSD caused or aggravated his obesity, which in turn caused or aggravated his OSA and ED.

The Board has remanded the claims for lumbosacral strain, nerve pain in both lower extremities, and bilateral foot disability (plantar fasciitis) due to pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors. The Veteran is required to undergo new examinations and obtain medical opinions regarding his conditions.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection for sleep apnea before the Board could make a decision.