Sleep apnea Board decisions

The Board remands the claim for service connection of obstructive sleep apnea to obtain a new medical opinion that adequately addresses the obesity-intermediate step theorem.

The Board dismissed the appeals of proposed reductions in disability ratings for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis, bilateral plantar fasciitis, and right shoulder strain with rotator cuff tendonitis and clavicle deformity as they are not appealable determinations.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions and denied entitlement to higher initial ratings for existing disabilities.

The Board remands the claim for an addendum opinion regarding whether the Veteran's OSA was caused or aggravated by his service-connected lumbosacral strain and sacroiliitis, as well as whether his obesity was caused or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities.

The Board remands the case to obtain a medical opinion on whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is directly related to service.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and remanded the claims for an acquired psychiatric disability, a sleep disorder, type two diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease, vertigo, hypertension, migraine headaches, arthritis of various joints, and kidney disease.

The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disability.

The appeal was denied for higher ratings and remanded for service connection of various conditions.

The Board granted a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU) but denied an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for OSA.

The Board remands the claims for increased ratings for lumbosacral strain and knee conditions to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Board remands the Veteran's claim for service connection of sleep apnea as secondary to service-connected tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and/or other specified trauma and stressor related disorder due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Board remands the appeal for further development, including obtaining SSA records relevant to the Veteran's claims.

The Board granted an initial rating of 10 percent for GERD and denied a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, left knee disability, low back disability, bilateral plantar fasciitis, right shoulder disability, respiratory disability, sleep apnea, and scars. Service connection was granted for irritable bowel syndrome, acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD and MDD), headache disability as secondary to PTSD/MDD, and erectile dysfunction as secondary to PTSD/MDD.

The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, with obesity as an intermediary step.

The Board denied service connection for left ear hearing loss, sleep apnea, and bilateral knee conditions due to a lack of evidence showing current disabilities meeting VA standards.

The Board granted a 50 percent rating for the service-connected back disability and an effective date of July 7, 2015, for the grant of service connection for right lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, tinnitus, chronic sinusitis, and an initial compensable rating for allergic rhinitis.

The appeal for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, secondary to a service-connected anxiety disorder was dismissed as the claim has been granted in full.

The Veteran's request for Higher-Level Review of the denial of his claims was untimely and therefore denied.

The Board granted eligibility for the direct payment of attorney fees based on past due benefits awarded in an August 2022 rating decision granting entitlement to Special Monthly Compensation (SMC).