Sleep apnea Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) disability as secondary to his service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, finding no in-service injury or disease and no nexus to service. The decision also noted that there was insufficient evidence to establish a diagnosis of sleep apnea.

The Board has determined that there were errors in the duty to assist and remands several issues for further development, including psychiatric disorders, back disability, sleep apnea, right knee disability, left knee disability, and left shoulder disability.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is granted as secondary to his service-connected disabilities, including somatic symptom disorder and related spinal conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and inadequate medical opinions. The claims will be reconsidered with a full accounting of his training dates, addendum opinions on the etiology of each condition, and consideration of secondary service connection.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of sleep apnea was denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for an earlier effective date.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates of January 8, 2021, for service connection of obstructive sleep apnea and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The effective date is based on VA receiving the Veteran's intent to file a claim.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's symptoms began during his military service and there is a medical nexus linking it to his time in service.

The Board has found new and relevant evidence for the claim of service connection for sleep apnea, requiring readjudication. The Veteran's fatigue is not considered a disability for which service connection benefits may be granted.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his MDD and lumbosacral strain has been remanded due to duty-to-assist errors in the prior decision.,For TDIU, the effective date is also being remanded as there was not proper consideration of whether referral for extraschedular consideration was warranted.

The Veteran's respiratory condition, including asthma, is not the result of active service.,The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is not the result of active service or caused by or aggravated by a service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to deficiencies in the prior VA examination and lack of medical evidence linking his current conditions to service.,Specifically, the right knee meniscal tear claim is being remanded because there are no addendum opinions addressing the Veteran's lay statements regarding an in-service injury. The left knee strain with PFPS and OSA claims are also being remanded for additional examination and opinion.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lower back disability, including conditions such as lumbar intervertebral disc degeneration and lumbosacral strain, is related to his active duty service. The decision grants service connection for these disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable evaluation for his residual lumbosacral spine scar was denied.,The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to June 24, 2021 for the grants of service connection for left and right lower extremity femoral nerve radiculopathy were granted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right hand degenerative arthritis and obstructive sleep apnea have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on current functional limitations.

The Veteran was granted service connection for right and left lower extremity sciatica, each rated at 10 percent effective September 30, 2020.,The Veteran was also granted service connection for right and left upper extremity radiculopathy, each rated at 20 percent effective October 30, 2020.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between his sleep apnea and acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically whether they are caused or aggravated by his service-connected hypertension, coronary artery disease (CAD), and/or erectile dysfunction.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection for OSA due to inadequate medical opinions and a duty to assist error.

The Board has denied an evaluation higher than 10 percent for sinusitis and has remanded the issue of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to posttraumatic stress disorder with major depressive disorder and sinusitis.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and a mental health disorder were denied. The Board found no evidence of current disabilities.,For the initial compensable rating claim, the Veteran was diagnosed with mild nonobstructive coronary artery disease in August 2018. From February 28, 2019 to July 18, 2019, he did not meet criteria for a higher rating.