Citation Nr: 18144675
Decision Date: 10/25/18	Archive Date: 10/24/18

DOCKET NO. 16-28 409
DATE:	October 25, 2018
REMANDED
Entitlement to service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is remanded.
REASONS FOR REMAND
The Veteran served on active duty from November 1989 to October 1994.
This case is before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) on appeal from an August 2015 rating decision by a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO).
The Board finds that more development is necessary prior to final adjudication of the appeal.  The Veteran was diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea in August 2014.  See August 2014 Sleep Study Results.  The Veteran contends that he is entitled to service connection for his sleep apnea condition because it was aggravated by his service-connected psychiatric disability.  The Board notes that the Veteran was afforded a VA examination for sleep apnea in July 2015.  The July 2015 VA examiner provided that no records related to the Veteran’s sleep apnea condition were found in his military records.  However, the VA examiner has not opined on whether the Veteran’s service-connected psychiatric disability may have caused or aggravated his sleep apnea condition.  Therefore, the Board finds that an addendum opinion is necessary to make a fully-informed decision on this appeal.    
Accordingly, the matter is REMANDED for the following action: 
1. The Agency of Original Jurisdiction (AOJ) should obtain any additional relevant VA or private treatment records identified by the Veteran and associate it with the electronic claims file. 
2. Then, the AOJ should get an addendum opinion by an appropriate medical examiner to determine the nature and etiology of his obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.  The examiner should review the entire claims file including a copy of this remand order. 
(a.) The examiner must opine whether the Veteran’s obstructive sleep apnea syndrome is at least as likely as not (50 percent probability) related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.
(b.) The examiner must opine whether the Veteran’s sleep apnea is at least as likely as not (50 percent probability) (1) proximately due to the service-connected specified trauma and stressor related disorder, or (2) aggravated beyond its natural progression by the service-connected specified trauma and stressor related disorder.  
The examiner must provide a complete written rationale for any opinion offered.
3. After completing the above actions and any other necessary development, the claim must be readjudicated.  If the claim remains denied, a Supplemental Statement of the Case must be provided to the Veteran and his representative.  After the Veteran and his representative have had an adequate opportunity to respond, the appeal must be returned to the Board for appellate review. 
 
MICHAEL LANE
Veterans Law Judge
Board of Veterans’ Appeals
ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD	J. E. Kim, Associate Counsel