Sleep apnea decisions — 2024

The Board has remanded the claims for Obstructive Sleep Apnea and a low back condition due to insufficient development of evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected Major Depressive Disorder with Chronic Pain Syndrome caused him to become obese, which in turn led to his development of Obstructive Sleep Apnea. The Board has granted service connection for OSA on a secondary basis.

The Veteran's initial disability rating for left ankle strain is granted at a 10 percent level, effective from November 17, 2020. The initial disability rating for bilateral hearing loss remains noncompensable.,Service connection for tinnitus and obstructive sleep apnea are both established. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea and remanded her claim for service connection for headaches.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is granted as service connected, and the Board has resolved the benefit of doubt in favor of the Veteran. The issues of service connection for GERD and a headache condition are remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a sleep disorder secondary to bladder cancer residuals as no new and relevant evidence was submitted, despite the Veteran requesting readjudication.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus type II, with obesity stemming from this disorder serving as an intermediate step in the causal chain.

The Board has denied service connection for sleep apnea and chronic fatigue syndrome as secondary to PTSD. The claims for low back, bilateral knee, and bilateral shoulder disabilities are remanded.

The Veteran's service connection claims for mass on heart, mass on lung condition, and OSA were denied as the evidence did not show a relationship to his military service.,Service connection was also denied for BHL and tinnitus due to lack of diagnosis within one year after discharge.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is related to his service-connected PTSD with somatic symptom disorder and/or hypertension, but requires further medical examination for a definitive opinion.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received for the Veteran's claims of service connection for right ankle strain, left ankle strain, left knee strain, right knee strain, and lumbosacral strain. The claims are being remanded to obtain additional opinions regarding the relationship between these conditions and service.

The Board has determined that there was a duty to assist error and remanded the case for additional development. The Veteran's service-connected adjustment disorder with obesity is alleged to have caused or aggravated his obesity, which in turn allegedly caused his current low back condition.

The Veteran's SMC based on statutory housebound status is granted from January 7, 2019. The TDIU issue is moot as the psychiatric disability alone meets the criteria for a 100% rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions and unobtained private treatment records. The Veteran is seeking service connection for lumbosacral strain, right lower extremity nerve condition, and left lower extremity nerve condition.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is found to be aggravated by his service-connected anxiety disorder and depressive disorder associated with lumbosacral strain with lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, warranting secondary service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea is secondary to his service-connected migraine headaches and tinnitus, with obesity as an intermediate step. Therefore, the claim for service connection for sleep apnea is granted.

The Veteran's left-hand arthritis and associated scar were initially rated as noncompensable, but the Board granted a 10% rating for arthritis of the left hand. The left-hand scar remains at 0%.,Service connection was remanded for sleep apnea.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea before the decision was made.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder and lumbosacral strain due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to March 31, 2021, for the award of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is denied as he did not file a formal or informal claim within one year of his separation from service.