Sleep apnea decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability (bipolar disorder) has been reopened and granted.,Service connection is also granted for sleep apnea, which the Board found was aggravated by her service-connected bipolar disability and asthma. Tinnitus was also found to be related to active service.,The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU) due to migraine headaches has been granted.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea but has remanded the issues of right shoulder disorder, low back disorder, and bilateral ankle disorders due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the cases for further examination to determine if there is a relationship between the Veteran's current conditions and her active service.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II, with erectile dysfunction has been dismissed because the Veteran withdrew his appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and coronary artery disease. Service connection is remanded for obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board has determined that clarifying medical opinions are necessary for both the relationship between obstructive sleep apnea and service, as well as the relationship to diabetes.

The Board has denied service connection for sleep apnea and remanded the other issues due to lack of evidence. The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is rated at 20 percent, but a new examination is needed to determine if it warrants an increased rating. Glaucoma and eye condition are also remanded as there is insufficient medical opinion on their etiology. Heart valve condition is also remanded for herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea is reopened due to new evidence, but the issue of whether it is secondary to his service-connected depression remains unresolved and requires further examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and a stroke are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions, as well as the potential secondary effects from her service-connected disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's current obstructive sleep apnea is related to his service-connected PTSD and if it was caused by his active duty.

The Board has decided that an additional opinion is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's sleep apnea, as the previous VA examiner did not provide a clear opinion on whether the sleep disorder was caused or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that there was no evidence of onset during active service and that it is not related to his service-connected tinnitus.

The Veteran's service connection for PTSD was reopened, but his cervical spine disability remains at a 30% rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's sleep apnea and his service-connected coronary artery disease, as well as whether the Veteran's current sleep apnea began during active service.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea and headaches as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions, and the Veteran did not provide evidence that they are related to his military service.

The Veteran's sleep apnea and PTSD are granted service connection, with a 50% initial rating for PTSD. The other issues remain pending.

The Board denied service connection for retinitis pigmentosa, finding that the condition existed prior to service and did not worsen during service.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection of left and right shoulder injuries with arthritis, as well as obstructive sleep apnea. The Veteran's appeal for chronic fatigue syndrome was remanded.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for his left little finger disability is denied as the maximum schedular rating has already been assigned.,The Board finds that additional evidence is needed to determine if the Veteran’s right thumb injury, TBI, tinea versicolor, eye injury, right leg injury, prostatitis, back injury, residuals of deviated septum surgery, sleep apnea, and bronchitis are related to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to unresolved issues regarding service connection for sleep apnea and increased rating for ischemic heart disease. The Veteran's TDIU claim is also pending.