Sleep apnea decisions — 2024

The Veteran's appeals for PTSD and a higher initial rating for lumbosacral strain have been dismissed as he has withdrawn his appeal.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for OSA and hypertension due to inadequate medical opinions that did not consider his lay statements of exposure to burn pits during military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between his current knee and back conditions and his military service. The VA is instructed to provide additional medical opinions on these issues.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for Meniere's disease, obstructive sleep apnea, and vitamin deficiency due to a lack of clinical evidence supporting these conditions during his period of active service. The claims are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's sleep apnea with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is rated at 50 percent, requiring the use of a breathing assistance device such as CPAP.

The Veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis, left shoulder strain (rotator cuff tendinitis), and lumbosacral strain are not service-connected. The Veteran's allergic rhinitis is also not service-connected.,An initial rating of 20 percent for cervical strain was granted effective March 31, 2022.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new vocational rehabilitation evaluation to determine if he is entitled to additional VR&E services, including pursuing a career in journalism. The current evaluations are insufficient and do not consider his specific interests and aptitudes.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is found to have begun during active service and has been recurrent since then, granting the claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty-to-assist error and needs an updated medical opinion regarding the Veteran's low back condition.

The Veteran's Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is granted as service-connected, with the Board finding that it began during active duty and has continued throughout the period on appeal.

The Veteran's allergic rhinitis is not related to his service-connected COPD.,The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is not related to his service-connected COPD or any other in-service factor.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis is rated at 20 percent for the period from April 26, 2021, to September 6, 2021. A higher rating is not warranted during this time frame.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea due to a duty-to-assist error in failing to obtain an adequate medical opinion regarding whether his current disability is secondary to or aggravated by his service-connected conditions, particularly obesity. The AOJ must provide a new examination and opinion addressing causation and aggravation.

The Board has denied service connection for various conditions, including chronic blood infection, lumbar spine disability, diabetes mellitus type II (diabetes), hypertension, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, prostate cancer, right knee disability, and right foot disability. The claims are not supported by the evidence of record.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to duty-to-assist errors and incomplete evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is remanded due to a duty to assist error and the need for additional development.

The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities.,The Veteran is also granted special monthly compensation due to the need for higher level aid and attendance related to his traumatic brain injury.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is related to service, but remanded for further development including obtaining a VA medical opinion regarding the etiology of his condition and whether it is due to conceded toxic exposures during Southwest Asia service.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a new VA examination and opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea, including whether it is related to service or secondary to diabetes.

The Board has remanded the case due to deficiencies in the retrospective opinion regarding the degree of functional loss during flare-ups and repetitive use over time.