Sleep apnea Board decisions

The Board has determined that the claims for service connection for irritable bowel syndrome, sleep apnea, a stroke and residual symptoms, a right elbow disorder, and lower extremity neuropathy must be remanded due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for sleep apnea and migraines were denied. The effective dates of service connection for sleep apnea and migraines have been granted.

Your appeal for service connection for sleep apnea has been dismissed because you filed a supplemental claim seeking AOJ review of the same issue, which is not allowed while the initial review is pending.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected chronic maxillary sinusitis, with obesity acting as an intermediate step.

The Board has determined that the AOJ did not commit a pre-decisional duty to assist error and is therefore remanding the case for further development, including obtaining an examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) disability.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea, type II diabetes mellitus, hypertension, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), laryngeal cancer, and left ear hearing loss. The Veteran's claims were not supported by evidence showing a direct relationship to his military service.

The Veteran's GERD with hiatal hernia and OSA are granted as secondary to his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection for various hip disabilities, leg pain, knee disabilities, and lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease have been denied. The Board found no evidence of current hip or leg disabilities at the time of the appeal.

The Board has granted service connection for OSA, secondary to service-connected insomnia on a causation basis with obesity as an intermediate step.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent, but no higher, effective from the date of this decision.,Service connection for OSA remains pending and will be remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for a back disability as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected left knee disability, finding that the current back disability is due to or aggravated by the left knee disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a thyroid condition and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) due to errors in fulfilling the duty to assist, focusing on whether these conditions are related to exposure to Gulf War environmental hazards.

The Board dismissed the appeal for service connection for sleep apnea and sleep disturbances due to the appellant's withdrawal of the appeal. The claim for a sinus condition (claimed as sinusitis) is remanded for further review.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain is currently rated at 40 percent disabling, effective June 26, 2019. The appeal for a higher rating has been denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error in not obtaining his complete military records and ensuring he had a separation examination. The right shoulder condition claim is being remanded for an additional VA examination, while the sleep apnea claim requires a medical opinion.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's multiple service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and bilateral pes planus, contributed to her obesity and subsequent development of obstructive sleep apnea. The appeal is thus granted.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for erectile dysfunction is dismissed as the benefits were granted in a previous decision. Service connection for sleep apnea secondary to service-connected disabilities is granted. The issue of service connection for a cervical spine disability to include as secondary to a thoracolumbar spine disability is remanded.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is related to his service-connected cervical spine and remands for further evaluation.

The Veteran's OSA symptoms, including persistent day-time hypersomnolence and the need for a CPAP machine, are rated at 30% from July 12, 2006, and 50% from January 30, 2009.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbosacral spine disability is related to his military service and has granted service connection for this condition.