Sleep apnea Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include depression, and for sleep apnea (also claimed as insomnia), due to insufficient evidence in his STRs. The Veteran will be afforded VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied, and the effective dates for the grants of service connection were not earlier than June 11, 2021.,Hearing loss was rated as noncompensable (0 percent) since June 11, 2021.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection regarding an abnormal heart disability, high blood pressure, ED, and sleep apnea are remanded due to a duty to assist error. The VA examinations obtained prior to the March 2022 rating decision on appeal did not adequately address the nature of these conditions or their relationship to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service connection for sleep apnea, including as secondary to his service-connected disabilities of degenerative disc disease, lumbar spine with spinal fusion and bilateral knee degenerative arthritis, is denied because the evidence does not support a finding that obesity (an intermediate step) was caused or aggravated by these service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for OSA as secondary to PTSD due to inadequate opinion regarding etiology.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including allergic rhinitis, deviated nasal septum, sleep apnea, and sinusitis. The Veteran's current knee and ankle disabilities were also not found to be related to service.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for back muscle spasms was withdrawn by the appellant.,Service connection for fluid retention and sleep apnea, both claimed as due to herbicide exposure, is denied. The Board found no evidence of a current disability related to these conditions.,An increased rating in excess of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus type II (DMII) is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and back condition are found to be the proximate cause of his current sleep apnea, with obesity serving as an intermediate step.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a recurrent headache disability and a rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbosacral spine intervertebral disc syndrome with degenerative disc disease, spondylosis, and bilateral sacroiliitis are being remanded due to the need for further medical examinations.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea was denied as there were no prior claims or informal claims indicating intent to apply for benefits before April 16, 2017.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a failure to provide adequate medical opinions and a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The Veteran's OSA is related to service, but whether it was caused or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD or tinnitus needs further clarification.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to address the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, as it relates to his service-connected tinnitus. The current medical opinions are deemed inadequate and further examination may be required.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea secondary to posttraumatic stress disorder, finding that the Veteran's OSA is at least as likely as not due to his PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, chronic left hip strain with limitation of flexion and osteoarthritis, chronic left hip strain with limitation of extension and osteoarthritis, and chronic left hip strain with thigh impairment and osteoarthritis have been granted effective October 30, 2020. The Board has also remanded the increased evaluation claims for these conditions.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral pes planus, plantar fasciitis, cervical strain, lumbosacral strain, left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, left and right hip strains, left and right knee conditions, and tinnitus have been granted. The Veteran is also assigned a 10 percent rating for each of the affected limbs.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him so helpless as to require the regular aid and attendance of another person, warranting special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance (SMC) at rate SMC(l).

The Board has denied service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome and remanded the sleep apnea claim due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination, and a new examination is needed to determine if any lumbar spine disorder, including lumbosacral strain, is related to military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty to assist error regarding whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is aggravated by his service-connected tinnitus. The VA examiner found that the Veteran's obesity was more likely the cause of his OSA, and the private medical opinions did not adequately address the aggravation claim.

The Board has found new and relevant evidence that raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim of service connection for OSA. The case is being remanded to obtain an opinion regarding whether the Veteran's OSA is related to his military service.