Sleep apnea Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease and degenerative arthritis was denied, as the effective date cannot be earlier than December 9, 2021, when VA received his supplemental claim. The Board found that no valid claim had been filed within one year of separation from service.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, erectile dysfunction, hepatic disease, hypertension, kidney disease, low testosterone, pulmonary embolism, sleep apnea, supraventricular tachycardia, and syncope to correct a duty to assist error in failing to obtain adequate VA examinations.

The Board denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as it is not related to the Veteran's active service or his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD, resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea on a secondary basis, finding that the Veteran's obesity, which was caused by his service-connected disabilities, was a substantial factor in developing the condition.

The Board denied service connection for a left shoulder disorder, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, and sleep apnea as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of sufficient evidence to establish service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, which is related to in-service toxic exposure. The Veteran will receive an examination and opinion under the PACT Act.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, a left hip disability, and a lumbar spine disability to obtain outstanding private treatment records.

The Board dismissed the duplicative appeals for evaluation and service connection of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with mycotic lung disease, to include emphysema; obstructive sleep apnea; posttraumatic stress disorder; chronic kidney disease; and tinnitus.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and allergic rhinitis, based on presumptive service connection for exposure to fine particulate matter during the Persian Gulf War. Service connection for allergic rhinitis was denied on a direct basis.

The Board has determined that new evidence, including a private opinion from January 2021, supports readjudicating the claim of entitlement to service connection for OSA. The case is remanded due to inadequate opinions regarding secondary service connection.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for erectile dysfunction, type II diabetes mellitus, and obstructive sleep apnea due to inadequate rationale in previous VA opinions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The VA must obtain adequate medical opinions as to whether OSA was incurred in or caused by service, including complaints during service. Additionally, an opinion on aggravation is needed.

The Board has granted service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, obstructive sleep apnea, and hypertension. The Veteran's congestive heart failure is also found to be related to his service-connected hypertension.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient consideration of the Veteran's reports of trouble sleeping during service and their relation to his current sleep apnea diagnosis.

The Board has found a pre-decisional duty to assist error in not affording the Veteran a VA examination for his OSA. The case is remanded to comply with the statutory duty imposed by the PACT Act to secure a toxic exposure risk activity (TERA) memorandum and a TERA-specific medical opinion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions due to a failure to schedule VA examinations. The Veteran was scheduled but did not attend, and good cause is found for this failure.

The Board granted an initial disability rating of 50 percent for obstructive sleep apnea and denied an effective date prior to June 11, 2015, for the award of service connection.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea was diagnosed within one year of his separation from service, meeting the criteria for direct service connection.

The Board denied service connection for right knee osteoarthritis, obstructive sleep apnea, a bilateral hip disability, and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy as there was no evidence of an in-service injury or disease, and the conditions were not shown to be related to service.