Sleep apnea Board decisions

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is caused by his service-connected right foot plantar fasciitis with interior and superior heel spurs and/or right and left varicose veins.,The Veteran's left heel tendinitis is not likely caused or aggravated by his service-connected right foot plantar fasciitis with interior and superior heel spurs.,The Veteran's unspecified depressive disorder with anxious distress is not likely caused or aggravated by his service-connected right and left lower extremity varicose veins.

The Veteran's current diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea is granted as secondary to his service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The Board found that the evidence was in equipoise regarding whether the OSA is causally related to PTSD, and thus granted the claim.

The Board dismissed the appeal for an increased rating in excess of 50 percent for sleep apnea due to untimeliness. The Veteran's appeals for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, asthma, sinusitis, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), hypertension, headaches, bilateral plantar fasciitis, sciatica, right knee disability, left knee disability, and an acquired psychiatric disability were denied.

The Veteran's claims for beneficiary travel expenses were denied because they were not submitted within the required 30-day filing deadline, despite a previous suspension of the deadline due to the COVID-19 emergency.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's sleep apnea may be related to his service-connected PTSD or other disabilities, but a new opinion is needed to determine causation and aggravation.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, finding that there is no probative evidence linking the two conditions.

The Veteran wishes to withdraw their appeal for service connection of sleep apnea. The Board has accepted this withdrawal and dismissed the case.

The Board has determined that the VA examination is insufficient for rating purposes and remands the case to obtain an addendum opinion regarding whether citalopram (related to PTSD) may contribute to weight gain and obesity, which could aggravate obstructive sleep apnea.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and hypogonadism (claimed as low testosterone and pituitary adenoma) are remanded due to inadequate VA examinations and failure to address the theories of direct service connection, secondary service connection, and undiagnosed illness or MUCMI.

The Veteran's cervical spine strain is granted, with a 10% evaluation.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.,Service connection for OSA as secondary to PTSD is granted.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection for sleep apnea, and the claim is dismissed.

The Veteran's hypertension, ischemic heart disease (coronary artery disease), diabetes mellitus type 2, and bilateral hearing loss are all granted as they are presumed to be related to herbicide exposure during service.,Service connection for OSA, an acquired psychiatric disability, and erectile dysfunction is also granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's OSA is secondary to his service-connected PTSD, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is remanded due to duty-to-assist errors, including a failure to consider obesity as an intermediary and the need for a new examination regarding potential toxic exposure risk activity (TERA).

The Veteran's back disability, including degenerative arthritis, lumbosacral strain, and intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS), is now considered service-connected.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for sleep apnea, which was secondary to his service-connected PTSD, has been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea is due to his service-connected PTSD, which caused weight gain and obesity. As a result, the Board granted service connection for sleep apnea on a secondary basis.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected vasomotor rhinitis and septoplasty, finding that the evidence is in approximate balance with reasonable doubt resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that it is not causally or etiologically related to his military service and does not meet the criteria for a presumptive condition under the Persian Gulf War Veterans' provisions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea began during his active duty service and granted service connection for this condition.