Sleep apnea Board decisions

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection of sleep apnea as aggravated by his service-connected major depressive disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) as secondary to his service-connected Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The decision is based on a medical opinion that OSA was caused by weight gain due to PTSD, which in turn led to obesity.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected left knee disability. The decision finds that the Veteran's obesity, caused by his service-connected left knee disability, is a substantial factor in causing his OSA.

The Veteran's service connection claims for an acquired psychiatric disability, sleep apnea, and a headache disability are granted. The Board finds that the Veteran has current diagnoses of these conditions and they are related to his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of an adequate VA opinion regarding whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is caused by or aggravated by her service-connected migraine headaches.

The Board has restored the Veteran's original 40 percent rating for degenerative disc disease with lumbosacral strain, effective January 8, 2021. The appeal was not about service connection but rather a reduction in rating.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of adequate examination opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea, including whether it is related to his service-connected hiatal hernia with GERD or another diagnosed disorder.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbosacral spondylosis, finding that it is related to an in-service injury and resolving any doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease and arthritis is rated at 20 percent effective August 21, 2020.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for sleep apnea as it is related to his service-connected PTSD, due to potential exposure in Southwest Asia under the PACT Act.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for anxiety disorder and sleep apnea are being remanded due to the submission of new evidence. The claim for an increased rating for major depressive disorder with dysthymia is also being remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), finding that it had onset during his active service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for OSA as secondary to his service-connected PTSD with obesity. The evidence is at least in approximate balance as to whether obesity serves as an intermediate step between the service-connected PTSD and the Veteran's currently diagnosed OSA.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected PTSD, finding that there is at least an approximate balance of positive and negative evidence regarding whether the Veteran's current disability was proximately caused or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection were dismissed as he did not file a Notice of Disagreement within the one-year period following his August 8, 2019 decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is secondary to his service-connected post lateral right knee meniscectomy, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to errors in the original decision and the need for a VA examination regarding the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea, which is presumed related to toxic exposure during service.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is related to her service-connected left hip condition and left knee condition, with obesity as an intermediate step. The Board granted the claim for secondary service connection.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of sleep apnea has been dismissed due to his request to withdraw the appeal.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection due to new and relevant evidence. The claims are now remanded for further development, including obtaining STRs, scheduling a VA examination for hypertension, left leg condition, left knee condition, bilateral foot disability, and sleep apnea, and providing an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of these conditions.