The Board has determined that the Veteran's Obstructive Sleep Apnea is a new disability and not related to his service-connected PTSD or left foot plantar fasciitis. The Board also found that there was insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's exposure to environmental hazards in Southwest Asia (SWA) and his Obstructive Sleep Apnea, as well as whether his service-connected PTSD aggravated his Obstructive Sleep Apnea.
The deciding factor: The Board determined that the medical opinion provided by VA did not adequately address the Veteran’s contentions regarding the etiology of his Obstructive Sleep Apnea, including its relationship to environmental exposures in Southwest Asia and his service-connected PTSD.
- Claimed conditions
- Obstructive Sleep Apnea
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- Burn pits / airborne hazards
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 7, 2021
- Citation
- 21001382
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 21001382.
What this means for you
A remand is not a loss. The Board sent the case back for more development — often a new exam or missing records — before making a final decision. Many remands later end in a grant, and the decision spells out exactly what the Board wanted to see.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected left knee and left ankle conditions.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected other specified insomnia disorder.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and heart disability, including coronary artery disease, as these conditions are found to be proximately due to or the result of the Veteran's service-connected PTSD.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Neck Disability, and Bilateral Upper Extremity Radiculopathy. The decision is based on the Veteran's active service and medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.
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