Sleep apnea Board decisions

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, sleep apnea, and hernia, upper torso/sternum due to a lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinion regarding the cause of the Veteran's sleep apnea and its relationship to service-connected deviated nasal septum.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found no evidence of unfavorable ankylosis or IVDS, thus not meeting the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to duty-to-assist errors. The Board will obtain a new opinion on the nature and etiology of his obstructive sleep apnea, left knee condition, and right knee condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea syndrome was granted with an effective date of January 27, 2021. The decision is based on new evidence submitted after the initial denial in July 2019.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to GERD, a rating in excess of 10 percent for GERD prior to July 19, 2021, and entitlement to TDIU due to his GERD. Additional development is needed for these claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to May 2, 2016. The evidence did not show that there was an increase in disability during the one-year period before the date of the Veteran's claim.

The Board has determined that remand is necessary to obtain adequate VA medical opinions regarding the Veteran's claims for service connection due to duty to assist errors.

The Veteran's Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is caused by his service-connected PTSD and depression, and the Board has granted service connection for OSA on a secondary basis.

The Board has decided to remand the claim of entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea, which is secondary to service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The AOJ must obtain an addendum opinion regarding whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is at least as likely as not aggravated by PTSD.

The Board has denied a rating in excess of 50 percent for sleep apnea and asthma, but has remanded the claims for service connection for left foot strain with tendonitis and left ankle fracture.

The Board has granted service connection for OSA as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD and left knee disability, with obesity serving as an intermediate step.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD has aggravated his current diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted secondary service connection for the Veteran's Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) as it is proximately due to his service-connected Trauma and Stressor-Related Disorder, Allergic Rhinitis, and Sinusitis.

The Veteran's asthma disability rating was reduced from 60% to 50%, but the Board found this reduction improper due to inadequate VA examinations.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is rated at a 50 percent disability rating, effective from August 8, 2023. The Board found that the Veteran required use of a breathing assistance device such as CPAP but was unable to tolerate it.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for various disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and consideration of outstanding service records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of September 30, 2019 for service connection of OSA as secondary to PTSD. The Board found that the Veteran's initial claims for insomnia and OSA were distinct conditions.

The Board has decided that the case needs further review due to a duty-to-assist error, and requests an additional medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's sleep apnea.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied. The case is remanded to obtain private medical records related to the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea claim.