Sleep apnea Board decisions

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's sleep apnea and insomnia, as well as potential exposure to toxic substances during service.

The appeals for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and erectile dysfunction have been dismissed as the claims were fully granted in separate rating decisions.

Your claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of sleep apnea has been resolved in your favor, and the appeal is dismissed as there are no longer any pending issues.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, a left ankle disability, and an initial rating greater than 20 percent for intervertebral disc syndrome of the lumbar spine. The Board found that there was no evidence supporting these claims.

The Board found that the withholding of VA disability compensation benefits for 36 days of drill pay in FY 2020 was proper and denied the Veteran's appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for left knee, right knee, and lower back disabilities are remanded due to a duty-to-assist error. The VA examinations provided were inadequate for adjudication.

The Board has determined that the VA examination and opinion provided by the examiner did not address whether the Veteran's sleep apnea was caused or aggravated by his service-connected tinnitus. Therefore, the case is being remanded for an addendum opinion to correct this error.

The Veteran's death was not caused by any service-connected disability, and the Board found that he did not meet the requirements for DIC benefits or accrued benefits. The claim for survivors' pension was also denied as the Veteran did not have qualifying wartime service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a back disability and a left knee disability due to duty-to-assist errors. The Veteran's conditions are related to his service-connected right knee and left ankle disabilities, but further medical opinions are needed to address causation and aggravation.

The Veteran's initial rating of 50 percent for obstructive sleep apnea is granted, effective from the date of receipt of his claim. The appeal period prior to June 23, 2015 is covered by this decision.

The Veteran's GERD is granted a 10% rating prior to November 6, 2020. The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for sleep apnea and tinnitus due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has found that there are outstanding VA treatment records and pre-decisional duty to assist errors regarding the Veteran's tinnitus claim. The claims for service connection for COPD, OSA, PTSD, anxiety, depression, and a low back condition are remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for PTSD is granted, but the claims for service connection of peripheral vestibular disorder and sleep apnea are remanded due to inadequate examination.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's appeal for a VA examination to determine the date of initial onset and etiology of his obstructive sleep apnea, as well as whether it is proximately due or caused by any service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, sleep apnea, right knee disability, and left knee disability due to an error in providing notice of the Veteran's right to a hearing.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disability, finding that the evidence is in approximate balance and favors a causal relationship.

The Board has decided that the AOJ's decision denying service connection for obstructive sleep apnea should be remanded due to inadequate medical opinions and failure to address the Veteran's contentions regarding fuel exposure and obesity.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine degenerative joint disease and left knee degenerative joint disease.

The Veteran's service-connected obstructive sleep apnea, right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, and lumbar spine strain with degenerative arthritis have been granted. The initial disability ratings for the right and left lower extremity radiculopathies are set at 20 percent each, while the lumbar spine strain is denied a rating in excess of 40 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service connection claim for obstructive sleep apnea should be remanded due to inadequate VA examination and opinion.