Sleep apnea Board decisions

The Veteran's tinnitus and asthma have been granted service connection. The Veteran's headaches are remanded for a secondary service connection opinion, and her sleep apnea is also remanded for an aggravation of service-connected condition opinion.

The Veteran's service-connected depression is found to be proximately due to his herpes genitalis, and therefore granted for secondary service connection. The issue of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea remains pending as a remand is required.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of October 19, 2017, for the award of service connection for lumbosacral strain is granted. The Board finds that the RO's decision was based on newly added official service department records and resolves all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is related to service or secondary to his service-connected psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's Parkinson's-like symptoms are granted service connection as presumptively related to herbicide agent exposure during active duty. The claim for sleep apnea is remanded due to the need for a toxic risk exposure activity (TERA) opinion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim of service connection for degenerative disc disease, lumbosacral spine due to a lack of consideration of all relevant evidence and an inadequate medical opinion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to a lack of access to certain medical records stored in Vista Imaging or similar repositories. The AOJ is instructed to obtain and associate with the claims file complete updated clinical records, including those from VA and non-VA treatment providers.

The Board has granted effective dates of June 6, 2019 for the grant of service connection for sleep apnea and tinnitus. The date of entitlement is at least as late as June 6, 2019.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbosacral strain, but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss.,For the initial compensable ratings of right and left fifth finger closed fractures, the case is being remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is etiologically linked to his active-duty service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service connection claim for DMII was granted effective April 11, 2020. The initial evaluations for lumbosacral strain and left knee pain were denied. The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy disabilities are rated at 20 percent each since April 24, 2021.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for obstructive sleep apnea is being remanded due to a duty to assist error. A new VA examination is needed to determine the current severity of his service-connected condition.

The Board has granted service connection for OSA, finding that it is at least as likely as not caused by the Veteran's obesity due to his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions regarding whether the Veteran's sleep apnea was aggravated by his service-connected PTSD or degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine, and obesity. The AOJ is instructed to obtain a new opinion addressing these issues.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of Persistent Depressive Disorder with Alcohol Use Disorder and Cannabis Use Disorder was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, warranting a higher rating than 50 percent. Service connection for Obstructive Sleep Apnea was granted.

The Board has determined that the decision denying eligibility for PCAFC is not clear and does not provide adequate reasons or bases. The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including PTSD, major depressive disorder with generalized anxiety disorder, sleep apnea, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), tension headache, left shoulder labral tear, wrist tendinitis, fibromyalgia, lumbosacral strain, knee pain, plantar fasciitis, tinnitus, TMJ capsulitis, dry eye syndrome, allergic rhinitis, scars, and psoriasis are considered. The Board has ordered remand to clarify the reason for denial and provide proper notice.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbosacral spine disability as due to his service-connected left knee PFPS with meniscal tear or right knee PFPS (limitation of flexion), finding that these conditions did not cause or contribute to his current lumbosacral spine disability.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for hypertension, sleep apnea, and psoriasis as secondary to service-connected bipolar disorder and panic disorder due to errors in duty to assist.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea began during his active service and is therefore granted as a result of direct service connection.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's sleep apnea may be related to his service-connected PTSD, and therefore remands for further examination and analysis.