Sleep apnea decisions — 2024

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected PTSD with major depressive disorder and anxious distress, effective July 28, 2022. The appeal is dismissed for the period prior to that date.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and obstructive sleep apnea are remanded due to inadequate VA examination opinions regarding the relationship between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbosacral spine degenerative arthritis with intervertebral disc syndrome, left knee patellofemoral syndrome, right knee medial femoral condyle fracture and patellofemoral syndrome, left knee instability, and right knee instability are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Board has remanded the case due to errors in duty to assist and requests an addendum opinion from a clinician regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board has granted service connection for erectile dysfunction secondary to PTSD and diabetes, but the claims of service connection for diabetes, hypertension, and obstructive sleep apnea are remanded due to a lack of medical opinions addressing the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of obstructive sleep apnea has been dismissed due to their death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Veteran's sleep apnea was granted service connection. The Board found the VA opinion inadequate and remanded for further examination regarding his back condition, bilateral knee conditions, and secondary service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, kidney disability, headache disability, acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD), and obstructive sleep apnea due to in-service exposure to toxic chemicals. The AOJ is directed to verify the Veteran's in-service exposure to toxic chemicals at Jacksonville and Davisville.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and initial compensable ratings have been remanded due to her failure to attend scheduled VA examinations.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted service connection, while the claim for obstructive sleep apnea is remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected obstructive sleep apnea, which required use of a CPAP since October 11, 2011, is granted an initial 50 percent disability rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between his current condition and his active duty service or service-connected allergic rhinitis and/or sinusitis.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for sleep apnea and heart disorder due to insufficient medical opinions addressing whether the Veteran's right knee disability caused or aggravated his obesity, which in turn could have caused his sleep apnea and/or heart disorder.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient compliance with a prior directive, requiring an additional medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's prescription medication Abilify may be contributing to his weight gain/obesity and if so, whether it is at least as likely as not that his obesity has caused or aggravated his obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate VA opinions regarding service connection for OSA, specifically whether it is related to PTSD and/or hypertension.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine and left hip degenerative joint disease are related to his active-duty service, with the evidence being in equipoise. Service connection for these conditions is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical strain, left ankle strain, and right lower extremity sciatica secondary to lumbosacral strain. Service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy was denied due to lack of current diagnosis.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is remanded due to a duty to assist error. The VA medical opinion provided was inadequate as it did not address whether OSA had its onset during service or is otherwise related to service, specifically, the assertion as due to artillery.

The Veteran withdrew their appeal for service connection of obstructive sleep apnea, and the Board dismissed the case as a result.

The Veteran's tinnitus is already at its maximum schedular rating, and there is no evidence to support an increased rating.,There is insufficient evidence to find that the Veteran's right foot pain or left foot pain are related to his active duty service. ,There is insufficient evidence to find that the Veteran's sleep apnea is related to his active duty service. ,The Veteran has been diagnosed with chest pain, and a VA examination is needed to determine if it is related to his military service.,A VA examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's diabetes mellitus type 2 is related to his military service.