Sleep apnea Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for left lower extremity neurological disability, degenerative arthritis, degenerative disc disease, and intervertebral disc syndrome of the lumbosacral spine, and left lower extremity radiculopathy secondary to these conditions. The decision is based on evidence showing current diagnoses and a causal relationship.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is due to his service-connected PTSD, and thus grants service connection for OSA as secondary to PTSD.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, finding that the weight gain and obesity resulting from the service-connected condition served as an intermediate step in the development of the current sleep apnea disability.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for degenerative arthritis with strain of the lumbosacral spine and sleep apnea with sleep disturbances were dismissed because he did not timely file a VA Form 10182 and good cause was not shown.

The Veteran's OSA is rated at 50% since October 1, 2019. The PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder with anxious distress and alcohol use disorder does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the VA examination provided in April 2020 was inadequate for adjudication and remanded the case to obtain a new opinion. The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is alleged to be related to his OSA.

The Board has denied the Veteran's request to restore a 50 percent disability rating for service-connected obstructive sleep apnea due to aggravation by service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder, as the reduction was proper after deducting the baseline severity of the condition.

Service connection for muscle injury and sleep apnea is denied.,The Veteran's left eye corneal scarring, thoracotomy scars anterior trunk, and two painful thoracotomy scars of the posterior trunk are not rated higher than their current levels.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, but remanded the right shoulder disability claim due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected adjustment disorder with anxiety and alcohol use disorder.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal for service connection of sleep apnea.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that it is caused by obesity resulting from his service-connected disabilities.

Service connection has been granted for sinusitis, head injury (traumatic brain injury), neck disability, right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, low back disability, and sleep apnea.,The Veteran's conditions are all found to be related to service.

The appeals for left knee injury, lumbar back pain, bilateral burn scars, and sleep apnea have been dismissed. The appeal of post-traumatic stress disorder is remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims of service connection for headaches, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) secondary to PTSD, and earlier effective date for total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU). The decisions are being remanded due to a failure to consider evidence at the time of the relevant decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's OSA is caused by his service-connected PTSD, and thus grants service connection for OSA as secondary to PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for lumbosacral strain, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, right knee strain, and right knee scars were granted effective June 13, 2018.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date for his service connection of obstructive sleep apnea, finding that entitlement to service connection did not arise prior to January 18, 2016.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is granted as secondary to his service-connected depressive disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's OSA is not related to his service-connected PTSD and remands the case for further development, including obtaining an addendum opinion from a clinician.