Sleep apnea Board decisions

The Veteran's service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected disabilities is granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a duty-to-assist error related to herbicide exposure verification. The AOJ must obtain an updated Herbicide Exposure Verification Memorandum with signatures from both an employee conducting the search and a records research specialist.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty to assist error and insufficient evidence for service connection of OSA. A VA examination is needed, including consideration of BPOT exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder with alcohol use disorder.

The Board denied service connection for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as there was no evidence of a nexus between the Veteran's in-service toxic exposure and his current conditions.

The Board has denied service connection for left upper extremity neuritis, right upper extremity neuritis, and right lower extremity sciatica. The claims of service connection for migraines and lumbosacral strain are remanded.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for GERD due to a lack of adequate medical nexus opinion addressing causation and aggravation.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as secondary to his service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), with obesity serving as an intermediary step.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbosacral strain is etiologically related to his active service and grants entitlement to service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and lumbosacral strain are being remanded due to the need for additional development regarding exposure to herbicide agents and a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for lumbosacral strain, patellofemoral pain syndrome of the bilateral knees with right meniscus repair, and trochanteric pain syndrome of the bilateral hips as secondary to service-connected bilateral foot disabilities due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to conflicting information regarding the Veteran's service in Southwest Asia during the Persian Gulf War and his participation in TERA. The AOJ needs to clarify this information.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's sleep apnea and his service-connected PTSD. The VA will obtain a new opinion on whether the sleep apnea is related to or aggravated by the PTSD, considering obesity as an intermediate factor.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea on a secondary basis as due to his service-connected bilateral pes planus, including obesity as an intermediate step.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and consideration of outstanding service treatment records.

The Veteran's appeal includes claims for increased ratings and service connection for various conditions, including bilateral pes planus, left foot condition, right foot condition, sleep apnea, left hip condition, right hip condition, tooth condition, and left shoulder condition. The Board has denied the claim for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for bilateral pes planus.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions are remanded due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is granted. The case is remanded for further evaluation of the Veteran's recurrent nephrolithiasis.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was granted in a November 2023 rating decision, effective May 11, 2022. The appeal for this issue is dismissed as the award has already been made.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, major depressive disorder, and alcohol abuse disorder with obesity as an intermediate step caused his obesity, which in turn caused his obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The Board has granted service connection for OSA on a secondary basis to these conditions.