Citation Nr: 20033036
Decision Date: 05/12/20	Archive Date: 05/12/20

DOCKET NO. 18-51 965
DATE: May 12, 2020

REMANDED

Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is remanded.

REASONS FOR REMAND

The Veteran served active duty from February 2004 to February 2008.

Service connection for OSA 

The Veteran and his representative cited numerous medical articles to support his contention that his OSA is secondary to his PTSD. See November 2018 VA Form 9 and May 2020 representative brief. The May 2018 VA medical opinion only addressed direct service connection. A medical opinion is needed addressing whether the Veteran’s OSA is caused or aggravated beyond its natural progression by his service-connected PTSD.

The matters are REMANDED for the following action:

Obtain an addendum opinion from an appropriate clinician regarding the etiology of the Veteran’s OSA. The clinician must answer:

(a.) Whether the Veteran’s OSA is at least as likely as not (50 percent or greater probability) proximately due to his service-connected PTSD?

(b.)  Whether the Veteran’s OSA is at least as likely as not aggravated beyond its natural progression by his service-connected PTSD?

The clinician must provide a detailed rationale for any opinion expressed. The clinician must consider the medical articles cited in the November 2018 VA Form 9 and May 2020 representative brief, “The Connection Between PTSD and Sleep Apnea,” “A Comparison of Sleep Difficulties among Iraq/Afghanistan Theater Veterans with and without Mental Health Diagnoses,” “The Dangerous Correlation Between Sleep Apnea and PTSD,” and “Study finds high risk of sleep apnea in young veterans with PTSD.”

 

 

KELLI A. KORDICH

Veterans Law Judge

Board of Veterans’ Appeals

Attorney for the Board	T. Winkler, Associate Counsel 

The Board’s decision in this case is binding only with respect to the instant matter decided. This decision is not precedential and does not establish VA policies or interpretations of general applicability. 38 C.F.R. § 20.1303.