Sleep apnea Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for PTSD and service connection for sleep apnea is remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the relationship between his service-connected conditions and his current symptoms.

The Board has determined that the VA opinion is inadequate and remands the case for a new examination to address the nature and etiology of any low back disability diagnosed during the appeal period, including lumbosacral strain. The examiner must provide opinions on causation and aggravation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for anxiety and panic attacks have been dismissed as moot due to the award of service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).,The Veteran's claim for service connection for diaphragmatic pinch is remanded, requiring a VA examination and medical nexus opinion regarding its relationship to active service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) due to duty-to-assist errors and insufficient opinions regarding the etiology of his OSA. The AOJ is required to provide an addendum opinion addressing the likely etiology of the Veteran's OSA, including whether it was caused or aggravated by his service-connected status post ruptured left achilles tendon, left knee degenerative arthritis, lumbar strain, and bilateral chondromalacia with obesity as an intermediate step.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied as his current disability level does not warrant a compensable rating.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for bilateral hearing loss is denied as the earliest available effective date is February 15, 2023.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and other acquired psychiatric disorders are denied as there is no persuasive evidence of a current diagnosis or causal relationship to his military service.

The Veteran's Obstructive Sleep Apnea is found to be secondary to his service-connected Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, and thus service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's asthma is rated at 30 percent prior to October 24, 2016, and obstructive sleep apnea with asthma is rated at 50 percent on and after October 24, 2016. Both ratings are denied.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus Type-2 and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for a left shoulder disability was denied due to failure to report for a scheduled examination. The claim of service connection for sleep apnea secondary to PTSD is remanded as the VA opinion provided did not adequately address whether the Veteran's PTSD caused or aggravated his sleep apnea.

The Veteran's service-connected cervical spine disability is found to be the primary cause of his obstructive sleep apnea. The bilateral lattice degeneration of the retina with right eye photopsia and open angle glaucoma are granted at a 10% rating, effective from the date of the May 2022 decision.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, anxiety condition, asthma (shortness of breath), obstructive sleep apnea, left ankle condition, right ankle condition, and left hip condition have all been denied. The Board has also remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee condition and right knee condition.

The Veteran's low back disorder is granted as secondary to his service-connected bilateral ankle strains.,The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is granted as secondary to his service-connected major depressive disorder, alcohol use disorder, and anxiety disorder. The effective date for this grant is September 30, 2021.

The Board has granted an earlier effective date of February 14, 2018 for the grant of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea. The claim was continuously pursued by filing in succession any available review options within one year from when the decision was issued.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain is currently rated at 40 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.,For tension headaches (claimed as ocular migraines), the evidence does not support a compensable rating during either appeal period.

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). The decision resolves reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an obstructive sleep apnea disability as new and relevant evidence had not been received since the August 2021 rating decision.

The Board has decided the case in favor of the Veteran, finding that there is insufficient information to render an informed opinion regarding whether the Veteran's sleep apnea was caused by or aggravated by his service-connected adjustment disorder. The matter is therefore remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected PTSD with major depressive disorder, panic disorder, and alcohol use disorder. The decision is based on the opinion of a VA examiner who concluded that the Veteran's OSA was at least as likely as not due to or the result of his service-connected psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's claim for service connection and a rating increase for obstructive sleep apnea was granted with an effective date of October 31, 2007. The condition is secondary to his service-connected asthma.