Citation Nr: 22018780 Decision Date: 03/30/22 Archive Date: 03/30/22 DOCKET NO. 17-55 735 DATE: March 30, 2022 REMANDED Entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran had active military service from March 1997 to December 2003. This matter comes to the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) on appeal from an August 2017 rating decision issued by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO). Service Connection Sleep Apnea The Veteran asserts that his sleep apnea had its onset during active service, or in the alternative, was caused or aggravated by a service-connected disability. Service treatment records show that the Veteran reported problems with sleeping and still feeling tired after sleeping in a March 2012 Post-Deployment Health Assessment. Post-service evidence of record shows that the Veteran was diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea based on the results of a sleep study in December 2015. A review of the record shows that the Veteran was afforded a VA examination for his sleep apnea in July 2017. However, the medical opinion provided is inadequate as it does not aggress the Veteran's claim of aggravation. Further, the examiner did not provide an opinion regarding whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is directly related to his service. In light of the above, the Board finds that an additional medical opinion should be obtained regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's sleep apnea. Additionally, current treatment records should be identified and obtained before a decision is made in this appeal. The matters are REMANDED for the following action: 1. Identify and obtain any outstanding, pertinent VA and private treatment records and associate them with the claims file. 2. Then, forward the Veteran's claims file to an examiner with appropriate expertise for an addendum opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's sleep apnea. The examiner must review the claims file in its entirety, and note that review in the report. Based on the review of the record, the examiner must provide an opinion as to whether it is at least as likely as not (50 percent or better probability) that sleep apnea had its onset during the Veteran's active service, or is otherwise etiologically related to such service. In forming the opinion, the examiner must consider the Veteran's lay statements regarding the onset and continuity of the symptoms that led to the ultimate diagnosis of sleep apnea. The examiner must also provide an opinion as to whether it is at least as likely as not (50 percent or better probability) that sleep apnea was caused or aggravated by a service-connected disability, to specifically include the Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disability. A complete a detailed rationale for all opinions expressed must be provided. Another VA examination of the Veteran must only be conducted if deemed necessary by the examiner providing the requested medical opinions. 3. Confirm that all medical opinions provided comport with this remand, and undertake any other development determined to be warranted. 4. Then, readjudicate the appeal. If a decision is adverse to the Veteran, issue a supplemental statement of the case, and allow appropriate time for response. Then, return the case to the Board. Kristin Haddock Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans' Appeals Attorney for the Board I. Umez-Eronini, 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.