Sleep apnea Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to his exposure to toxic substances during military service, including in Southwest Asia and at Fort McClellan. The VA examiners did not adequately address the Veteran's contentions regarding his hazardous exposures.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disorder is granted, and the appeal is remanded to determine if TDIU should be granted. The Veteran previously had his claim denied in March 1988 but has now submitted new evidence that raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating his claim.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of sleep apnea was dismissed due to the Veteran's death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete records and potential exposure verification issues.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea, finding that it began during his active military service and is related to his in-service symptoms.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbosacral strain and cervical strain, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his active service. The claim of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea, but denied service connection for left ear and right ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and a heart condition, to include hypertension, are remanded due to inadequate medical opinions regarding causation or aggravation by his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, to include as due to his service-connected hypertension, is being remanded due to a duty to assist error.

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

The Veteran's sleep apnea is found to be at least as likely as not related to active service, and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran meets the schedular requirement for TDIU due to service-connected PTSD and other disabilities from April 1, 2019, to May 5, 2021.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated as 100% disabling starting May 20, 2021 and considered permanent. However, her other service-connected conditions did not meet the criteria for a permanent and total disability prior to that date, thus denying an earlier effective date for DEA benefits.

The Board has determined that the VA examination was not complete and remands the case for an addendum opinion to address the etiology of the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea, including whether it is related to his service-connected insomnia disorder.

The Veteran's request for readjudication of his claim for service connection for sleep apnea was denied because no new and relevant evidence had been received.

The Board has restored the 30 percent rating for right shoulder degenerative arthritis and denied the restoration of the 40 percent rating for lumbosacral strain with arthritis effective March 23, 2021.

The Veteran's TDIU claim for PTSD is granted effective March 15, 2022. The service connection claim for sleep apnea is remanded due to a duty-to-assist error.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted with a 70% rating effective March 26, 2019. Service connection for tinnitus and sleep apnea are also granted, but service connection for IBS is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is dismissed due to their death during the pendency of the hearing. The Board cannot issue a decision on the underlying claim at this time.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for sleep apnea as it is unclear whether the condition had its onset during service or if it is related to toxic exposures. The AOJ must obtain a new medical opinion to address these issues.