Sleep apnea Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected somatic symptom disorder is found to be the proximate cause of her obstructive sleep apnea, and thus she has been granted service connection for this condition on a secondary basis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of obstructive sleep apnea, finding no in-service incident or injury to which his current condition could be linked.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of a VA examination for direct service connection and an inadequate TERA-related medical opinion. The appellant's claim will be reconsidered with these issues addressed.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical spine strain and lumbosacral strain, effective February 8, 1990. The radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities is also service connected as secondary to these conditions.

The Board has granted an earlier effective date of September 23, 2021 for the award of service connection for migraine headaches and a TDIU due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted the appellant's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as secondary to his service-connected other specified trauma and stressor related disorder.

The Veteran's service connection claims for sleep apnea, autoimmune disease (rheumatoid arthritis), asthma, hypertension, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) are remanded due to a failure to provide a VA examination regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 10 percent, and her migraine headaches are granted an initial 50 percent rating. The Board denied the increased rating for the lumbar spine disability.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's service connection claim for obstructive sleep apnea should be remanded due to inadequate reasoning in the VA examiner's opinion.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of the appeal.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's sleep apnea, specifically whether it is at least as likely as not caused or aggravated by his service-connected Reiter's syndrome and foot disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal to have an earlier effective date for his service-connected obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) dismissed. The Board found that the Veteran submitted both a supplemental claim and a Board appeal on the same day, which is not allowed under VA regulations.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension, but the claims for atrial fibrillation, venous stasis or varicose veins, and sleep apnea are remanded due to pre-decisional failures of the duty to assist.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for DEA benefits is denied because the combined evaluation of his service-connected disabilities reached 100% on June 15, 2021, and DEA benefits can only be awarded after a permanent and total disability rating.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, secondary to his service-connected chronic adjustment disorder with obesity as an intermediate step. The decision is based on a finding of reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea, including a lack of VA medical opinions on secondary service connection for tinnitus and aggravation by his service-connected adjustment disorder.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), finding that it is secondary to his service-connected spine and hypertension, with obesity being an intermediate step.

The Veteran's back condition resulted in no less than estimated forward flexion of 55 degrees with flare-ups, but not meeting the criteria for a higher rating. The claim for an increased rating is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinion regarding whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is caused or aggravated by his service-connected MDD with anxious mood and TBI. The examiner must provide an addendum opinion addressing this issue.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty to assist error, specifically failing to obtain an examination that addressed symptoms during the Veteran's active duty service.