Sleep apnea Board decisions

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service-connected. The claims for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, and obstructive sleep apnea are remanded due to a lack of supporting documentation.

The Board has determined that the VA medical opinions obtained prior to the decision on appeal were inadequate for adjudicative purposes and remands the case for further development, including obtaining an addendum opinion addressing secondary service connection with obesity as an intermediate step.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and posttraumatic stress disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and an oral condition manifested by an abscess and dry mouth have been remanded due to the need for further development.,Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea has also been remanded.

The Veteran's current back disability, including lumbosacral strain, sacroiliac injury, sacroiliac weakness, and bilateral radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, is directly related to his in-service April 1988 motor vehicle accident. The Board has granted service connection for these conditions.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, finding that his PTSD caused him to become obese and that obesity is a substantial factor in causing his sleep apnea.

The Veteran's OSA is remanded for a new examination to determine if it was proximately caused by or aggravated by his service-connected asthma. The Veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis is also remanded for an addendum opinion considering the Veteran's in-service diagnosis and complaints, as well as post-service treatment records.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for fibromyalgia, sleep apnea, right hand disability, and low back disability have been dismissed. The claim of entitlement to service connection for a right hand disability is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including hearing loss, ankle disorders, vertigo, tinea pedis, and sleep apnea are being remanded due to the need for further evaluation or evidence.

The Board has denied service connection for right knee arthritis, bilateral hearing loss, bladder incontinence (claimed as secondary to hypertension), right hand arthritis, left hand arthritis, and a sleep disability. The claim for tinnitus was also denied.,Service connection is not granted for any of the claimed conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is at least as likely as not due to his service-connected adjustment disorder with major depressive disorder associated with right knee strain and/or weight gain due to inability to exercise due to chronic pain caused by his service-connected musculoskeletal conditions.

The Veteran's claim for a higher evaluation for migraines and earlier effective date for lumbosacral strain is granted. The Veteran is assigned an effective date of July 9, 2018 for the assignment of 50 percent evaluation for migraines. An earlier effective date than October 16, 2020 for the assignment of 20 percent evaluation for lumbosacral strain is denied.

The Board has remanded both service connection claims for obstructive sleep apnea and a vision condition due to inadequate medical opinions and the need for additional examinations. The Veteran's claims are related to presumed exposure to burn pits during his deployment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development and clarification regarding his service-connected disabilities, including his military service records and exposure to acoustic trauma. The claims will be reconsidered based on the evidence of record at the time of the August 2022 Supplemental Statement of the Case.

The Veteran's service connection claim for degenerative arthritis of the spine is denied as there is no evidence linking his current condition to his military service.,Service connection for OSA was not granted because the Veteran did not have a diagnosed condition during service and there is no medical nexus between his current condition and his service-connected PTSD. The Board also found that obesity, which may be related to his anxiety disorder, does not cause his sleep apnea.,The claim for generalized anxiety disorder remains pending as the Board could not determine if the Veteran's in-service events caused his current condition due to a lack of information from Federal records.

The Board has decided to remand the claim of service connection for sleep apnea, as secondary to service-connected PTSD. The decision is based on a lack of adequate medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's sleep apnea and his service-connected PTSD.

The appeal for attorney fees from the June 2021 grant of service connection for sleep apnea is denied due to a lack of valid fee agreement.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea was diagnosed during service and is considered to have had its onset in service, thus service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran withdrew their appeal concerning increased ratings for left knee and lumbosacral strains, and for chronic lymphedema.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to February 26, 2016 for service connection for a lumbar spine disability. The appeal was found to be final due to lack of timely submission and new and material evidence.