Sleep apnea Board decisions

The Veteran's sleep apnea requires the use of a CPAP machine, and this condition has been service-connected since September 24, 2019. The Board granted an initial rating of 50 percent for sleep apnea.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not substantially contribute to his employment handicap, and he was found employable with his current skills, experience, and education. The Board denied the Veteran's claim for VR&E benefits as he does not have an employment handicap.

The Veteran's low back disability is granted as secondary to his service-connected right knee disabilities. The cervical spine disability claim is remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea and its relationship to service, service-connected supraventricular arrhythmia, and obesity.

The Veteran's migraines and sleep apnea are granted as secondary to his service-connected cervical spine disability.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent from April 5, 2021.,Hypertension has been granted as service-connected.,Obstructive sleep apnea and heart disorders (including atrial fibrillation and congestive heart failure) are also service-connected.,Migraines have been granted as service-connected.,The Veteran is now eligible for a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea was found to have started during his military service, and the Board granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of obstructive sleep apnea is granted. The Board finds that the December 2006 rating decision never became final, and entitlement to an effective date of March 2, 2005, was established.,Service connection for diabetes mellitus is denied as there is no evidence linking the Veteran's current diagnosis to service or within one year of separation. The Board finds that the positive evidence of record consists solely of the Veteran's lay belief in a causal link between service and his subsequent development of diabetes mellitus, which was not supported by medical records.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral pes planus and bilateral plantar fasciitis is granted. The Board finds that the disability picture more nearly approximates the criteria for a 10 percent rating under DC 5276.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of obstructive sleep apnea was denied as the evidence did not support a finding that his claim should have been granted prior to March 1, 2021.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is caused or aggravated by his service-connected anxiety disorder.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss from January 2, 2020 is denied. The Board also granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus type 2.

The appeal for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, which was secondary to a service-connected disability, has been dismissed as the appellant withdrew their appeal.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that it is related to the Veteran's service-connected anxiety and depressive disorder, right knee disability, and left knee disability. The decision resolves reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

Service connection for lumbosacral strain is granted.,The Veteran's initial rating for generalized anxiety disorder prior to October 4, 2018 was increased to 50 percent. The rating of 70 percent from April 29, 2019 onwards is also granted.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to duty-to-assist errors, specifically regarding the lack of an opinion on whether the Veteran's sleep apnea was caused or aggravated by his service-connected tinnitus and lumbar spine disability. The Veteran will need a new VA examination.

The Veteran's rhinitis, seizure disability (temporal lobe epilepsy), migraine headaches, alcohol use disorder, opioid use disorder, cannabis use disorder, chronic fatigue syndrome, obstructive sleep apnea, eczema, and muscle and joint pain of the lower back, bilateral hands, feet, knees, and hips are all granted presumptively based on service in Southwest Asia. The Veteran's PTSD is also granted with an initial rating of 70 percent from May 21, 2014 to February 27, 2020.

The Board dismissed the issue of service connection for migraine headaches due to a grant in July 2023. The claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is remanded.

The Veteran withdrew their appeal for service connection of lumbosacral strain, citing the grant of total disability due to unemployability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is related to his service, specifically his in-service weight gain and deployments. As a result, the claim for service connection for OSA is granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of obstructive sleep apnea, finding that there is no persuasive evidence to support a link between his current condition and his military service.