The Board has determined that there is no evidence to support the Veteran's claims for service connection for OSA and a psychiatric disorder (other than PTSD), including other specified REM behavior disorder and depression. The preponderance of the evidence does not show an in-service disease or injury, nor a nexus between any current disability and military service.
The deciding factor: The medical records do not provide sufficient evidence to establish that the Veteran's OSA had its onset during active service or is otherwise related to his military service. Similarly, there is insufficient evidence to support a finding of an in-service disease or injury for the psychiatric disorders (other than PTSD), including other specified REM behavior disorder and depression.
- Claimed conditions
- Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), Depression, Other specified REM behavior disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 20, 2021
- Citation
- 21023367
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 21023367.
What this means for you
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What you can do next
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The Board has remanded the case due to errors in the AOJ's handling of the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, other specified trauma and stressor-related disorder, and depression. The AOJ is required to verify the Veteran's claimed stressor and obtain medical opinions regarding the diagnoses and their relation to service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims of entitlement to service connection for vertigo and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The Veteran's hearing loss is not rated higher than 10 percent.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that the claims for service connection for OSA and insomnia must be remanded due to inadequate VA examinations and opinions, as well as a failure to obtain TERA opinions on all relevant exposures.
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