The Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims recently remanded our client’s claims for service connection of a sleep disorder and headaches. The remand was based on VA’s agreement that the two claims should be considered in relation to the veteran’s service-connected psychiatric condition. This case highlights the inextricable link between these conditions and the veteran’s unresolved claim for a psychiatric disorder, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

In this case, the client provided substantial medical evidence linking his sleep apnea and headaches to his psychiatric condition. Experts supported this connection, with his treating physicians and independent medical specialists affirming that his psychiatric symptoms likely worsened his sleep apnea and headaches. One expert cited research showing a strong link between psychiatric disorders and sleep apnea, while another emphasized how sedating antidepressants prescribed for his mental health symptoms aggravated his sleep apnea.

The Board initially denied service connection for these conditions, reasoning that they were unrelated due to the absence of an established psychiatric condition. However, the parties agreed this reasoning flawed, as a favorable ruling on his psychiatric disorder could impact the outcome of his sleep apnea and headache claims. Because these claims are interrelated, our firm and VA’s attorneys jointly determined that remanding the claims for further review would prevent unnecessary judicial effort and ensure a fair assessment.

This ruling underscores the importance of considering secondary service connections when disabilities share a complex relationship. Our team remains dedicated to advocating for veterans’ rights to full and fair evaluations of their interconnected health conditions, ensuring they receive the benefits they deserve.