Sleep apnea Board decisions

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for OSA, as it is unclear whether the condition was caused or aggravated by a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's hypertension and sleep apnea are being remanded for further evaluation due to inadequate VA medical opinions. The claims will be reconsidered with the addition of new opinions addressing whether these conditions are proximately due or aggravated by his service-connected hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic sleep disorder to include sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's PTSD and depression caused his sleep apnea.

The Board has granted service connection for OSA as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD, finding that the evidence supports a medical nexus between the two conditions.

The Veteran's service connection claim for lumbosacral strain (claimed as lower back pain) is granted because there is evidence of a current disability, in-service aggravation, and a causal relationship between the two.

The Board has determined that the Veteran currently has sleep apnea and that the evidence is approximately evenly balanced as to whether this disability began during active service. The Board finds it is at least as likely as not that the OSA onset during a period of active duty, thus granting the claim on a direct theory.

The Veteran is granted SMC under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(o) and (r)(1) as of September 28, 2021 due to service-connected disabilities resulting in need for regular aid and attendance.

The Board has remanded the case due to a failure to provide notice of the appellant's right to a pre-decisional hearing before the RO issued the October 2022 rating decision on appeal. The claim for service connection for sleep apnea, which is secondary to PTSD, will be reconsidered.

The Board dismissed the appeal for service connection claims related to cardiomyopathy, sleep apnea, and ventricular tachycardia due to the Veteran's withdrawal of the appeal.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea secondary to his service-connected PTSD and lumbosacral strain, finding that the evidence supports a causal relationship between these conditions.

The Veteran's nerve condition of the bilateral lower extremities, claimed as radiculopathy, is granted.,The Veteran's sleep apnea and back condition are remanded for further review.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for additional medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected bilateral knee, shoulder, and hip disabilities contributed to his weight gain/obesity, which then led to his obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

The Veteran is granted higher levels of Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) at rates based on loss of use of both hands and need for regular aid and attendance due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) due to obesity, which is considered an intermediate step between her service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The decision finds that while OSA was not incurred in service, it is secondary to PTSD and caused by obesity.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, and his sleep apnea is rated at 50 percent. The neck strain issue has been remanded for further examination.,Service connection for the neck strain will be determined based on whether it was caused or aggravated by a service-connected condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea as there is no current diagnosis of this condition and the evidence does not support a link to in-service events or conditions.

The Board has dismissed the appeal because the Veteran filed a concurrent request for higher-level review and a Board appeal, which is not allowed under VA regulations.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection for accrued benefits.,Service connection is denied for bilateral hearing loss, obstructive sleep apnea, and diabetes mellitus.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for service connection awards of PTSD, degenerative arthritis of the spine with lumbosacral strain, tension headaches, status-post left inguinal herniorrhaphy, costochondritis, and PFB and bilateral paronychia.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current lumbar spine disability is related to his in-service injury, and thus service connection for this condition is granted.