Citation Nr: 21016105 Decision Date: 03/19/21 Archive Date: 03/19/21 DOCKET NO. 16-46 207 DATE: March 19, 2021 REMANDED Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran had active service in the U.S. Marine Corps from September 2000 to November 2005. This matter comes before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) on appeal from a July 2014 rating decision. The Veteran testified before the undersigned Veterans Law Judge at a Board hearing in January 2021. Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is remanded. The Veteran contends that his sleep apnea had its onset during service. Service treatment records are negative for any complaints, treatment or diagnoses associated with sleep apnea specifically. However, in January 2021, the Veteran submitted several lay statements from fellow servicemembers which collectively state that the Veteran snored and stopped breathing at night, and was sleepy or fatigued during the day. In addition, shortly after his November 2005 discharge, the Veteran reported the recent onset of snoring and intermittent episodes of sleep apnea during a February 2006 general VA examination. Based on this evidence, the matter should be remanded to obtain a VA opinion as to whether the Veteran’s current sleep apnea had its onset during service. The matters are REMANDED for the following action: Obtain an opinion from an appropriate clinician regarding whether the Veteran’s obstructive sleep apnea at least as likely as not had its onset during service, or is otherwise related to service. In making this opinion, the examiner should consider the February 2006 VA examination noting a recent onset of frequent snoring and intermittent episodes of sleep apnea, and the January 2021 statements from the Veteran’s fellow servicemembers regarding his snoring and fatigue during service. The examiner should consider the description of the Veteran’s in-service symptoms as well as his post-service history. If there is any medical reason to accept or reject the proposition that the Veteran’s reported symptoms in service and thereafter represented the onset of his/her sleep apnea, this should be noted. Stated another way, do the reports about his symptoms align with how the currently diagnosed disability is known to develop or are the Veteran’s reports generally inconsistent with medical knowledge?   If the requested opinion cannot be provided without an in-person examination, one should be scheduled. JOHN Z. JONES Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans’ Appeals Attorney for the Board Shamil Patel, 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.