Citation Nr: 21030211 Decision Date: 05/18/21 Archive Date: 05/18/21 DOCKET NO. 18-54 134 DATE: May 18, 2021 REMANDED Service connection for sleep apnea. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran served on active duty from April 1983 to February 1987. The case is on appeal from a July 2017 rating decision. In May 2021, the Veteran testified at a Board hearing. Service connection for sleep apnea. The Veteran contends that he has sleep apnea which is related to service. He testified during the May 2021 Board hearing that his sleep apnea had its onset during service. Following the Veteran's May 2017 claim, several May 2017 buddy statements were submitted in support of the claim. A May 2017 statement from a solider who served with the Veteran indicated he and the Veteran were roommates in service and he recalls the Veteran having trouble sleeping. He stated the Veteran would snore so loudly that he would have to wake the Veteran up. Another May 2017 statement reported the Veteran struggled with sleep apnea during service, including stopping breathing while asleep and choking to the point where he would wake up. These lay statements assert that the Veteran's sleep apnea had its onset during service. The VA treatment records show the Veteran has a history of sleep apnea, along with the use of a CPAP machine. Moreover, VA records dated September 2018 and May 2021 indicated obstructive sleep apnea as a medical problem and that the Veteran uses a CPAP machine. The Board finds evidence has been submitted which supports that the Veteran has a diagnosis of sleep apnea and that the disorder may be related to service. The Veteran has not yet been afforded a VA examination with regard to this claim. Thus, the evidence currently meets the low threshold for obtaining a VA examination. See McLendon v. Nicholson, 20 Vet. App. 79, 81 (2006). The Board notes that, during the May 2021 hearing, the Veteran reported that he has additional dates of service than those indicated, including additional periods of active duty for training (ACDUTRA). On remand, the Veteran's complete service dates should be attempted to be verified. The matters are REMANDED for the following action: 1. To the extent possible, take all appropriate efforts to confirm the Veteran's dates of active duty and Reserve service, including any ACDUTRA. After verification, a summary should be prepared of the Veteran's service dates. 2. Thereafter, schedule the Veteran for a VA examination (or telehealth interview, record review, etc., if an in-person examination is not feasible) by a qualified medical professional for an opinion to determine the nature and etiology of his sleep apnea. The examiner should identify if obstructive sleep apnea is present. (Continued on the next page) The examiner should then provide an opinion as to whether it is at least as likely as not (a 50 percent or greater probability) that the obstructive sleep apnea had its onset during, or is otherwise related to, service, to include any periods of ACDUTRA. The examiner should take note of the lay evidence of record in support of the claim. RYAN T. KESSEL Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans' Appeals Attorney for the Board Isaacs, Brandon 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.