Citation Nr: 18145251 Decision Date: 10/26/18 Archive Date: 10/26/18 DOCKET NO. 17-34 077 DATE: October 26, 2018 REMANDED Entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea with associated nocturnal hypoxemia is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran served on active duty from October 1964 to October 1968. This matter comes before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) on appeal from a January 2015 rating decision by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO) in Atlanta, Georgia. The Veteran seeks service connection for sleep apnea with associated nocturnal hypoxemia as he contends his disorder was incurred in service. A review of the record shows that there is medical evidence of a diagnosis and lay statements indicating an in-service incurrence. For example, in a September 2013 VA treatment record, the Veteran reported that working the swing shift while in service caused him to develop sleep problems. See also January 2015 Notice of Disagreement. An October 2014 polysomnography report confirmed diagnosis of sleep apnea with nocturnal hypoxemia. The record does not contain an opinion on whether sleep apnea was directly incurred in service. For these reasons, remand is warranted for an examination to determine the nature and etiology of his sleep apnea. The matter is REMANDED for the following actions: 1. Obtain all outstanding VA medical records from the Savannah OPC, dated from December 2016 to the present. 2. Schedule the Veteran for an examination to determine the nature and etiology of his sleep apnea with associated nocturnal hypoxemia. After a review the Veteran’s claims file, the examiner should provide the following opinions: (a.) State whether it is at least as likely as not (50 percent or greater probability) that sleep apnea with associated nocturnal hypoxemia had its onset during or is otherwise related to service. (b.) A rationale should be provided for all opinions rendered. MICHELLE KANE Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans’ Appeals ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD R. Casadei, Counsel