Sleep apnea decisions — 2024

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and lumbosacral strain are being remanded due to the need for additional development regarding exposure to herbicide agents and a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for lumbosacral strain, patellofemoral pain syndrome of the bilateral knees with right meniscus repair, and trochanteric pain syndrome of the bilateral hips as secondary to service-connected bilateral foot disabilities due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to conflicting information regarding the Veteran's service in Southwest Asia during the Persian Gulf War and his participation in TERA. The AOJ needs to clarify this information.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's sleep apnea and his service-connected PTSD. The VA will obtain a new opinion on whether the sleep apnea is related to or aggravated by the PTSD, considering obesity as an intermediate factor.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea on a secondary basis as due to his service-connected bilateral pes planus, including obesity as an intermediate step.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and consideration of outstanding service treatment records.

The Veteran's appeal includes claims for increased ratings and service connection for various conditions, including bilateral pes planus, left foot condition, right foot condition, sleep apnea, left hip condition, right hip condition, tooth condition, and left shoulder condition. The Board has denied the claim for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for bilateral pes planus.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions are remanded due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is granted. The case is remanded for further evaluation of the Veteran's recurrent nephrolithiasis.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was granted in a November 2023 rating decision, effective May 11, 2022. The appeal for this issue is dismissed as the award has already been made.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, major depressive disorder, and alcohol abuse disorder with obesity as an intermediate step caused his obesity, which in turn caused his obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The Board has granted service connection for OSA on a secondary basis to these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but has remanded the issue of whether OSA is aggravated by service-connected PTSD and TBI to include neurocognitive disorder.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is found to be proximately due to or aggravated by her service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Service connection for this condition, as secondary to PTSD, has been granted.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are rated at 30 percent, and the combined disability rating is calculated to be 90 percent due to bilateral factors. The Veteran does not meet criteria for a higher initial rating or a combined 100 percent rating.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is caused by his service-connected left foot disability, leading to a grant of service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea did not begin during service and is unrelated to any in-service injury or disease, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea was denied in December 2020. The effective date of the grant of service connection is set at June 6, 2022, which is when the supplemental claim was received by VA.

The Veteran's service connection claim for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) secondary to post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is remanded due to inadequate examination and the need for further clarification on obesity causation.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbosacral strain is being remanded due to the need for an updated medical opinion addressing his theory of service connection based on in-service heavy lifting.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for GERD, OSA, right knee condition, left knee condition, and COPD. The decision also notes that the Veteran's hypertension was granted as service connected with a ten percent evaluation.