The Board has remanded two issues: service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, including as secondary to PTSD, and service connection for insomnia. The reasons include the need for additional medical opinions regarding the relationship between medication prescribed for PTSD and OSA/insomnia.
The deciding factor: The Joint Motion agreed that the Board erred in its decision because it did not provide adequate medical evidence supporting the determination of risk factors or causative risk factors for sleep apnea, including those related to service-connected PTSD. The motion also noted the need for a VA examination and opinion regarding whether medication prescribed for PTSD caused weight gain leading to OSA.
- Claimed conditions
- obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), insomnia
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 19, 2023
- Citation
- 23039611
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 23039611.
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 Veteran's OSA is granted as service connected. The Veteran's infectious disease claim and stomach disability claim are remanded for further examination.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to errors in obtaining relevant medical records and authorization for private treatment providers. The issues include heart disorder, OSA, sinusitis, lumbar spine disorder, and right knee disorder all related to Agent Orange exposure.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for service connection of insomnia was denied, and the effective date is set to the date of receipt of the claim (May 31, 2024).
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, major depression, generalized anxiety disorder, insomnia and alcohol use disorder caused his sleep apnea.
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