Sleep apnea decisions — 2018

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, finding that there is no evidence of a diagnosis during or shortly after service and no nexus opinion linking current sleep apnea to active military service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is related to his service, specifically exposure to Agent Orange in Vietnam.

The Board finds that further development is necessary to determine if the Veteran's sleep apnea was incurred in service, and a medical opinion is needed.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left eye vision disorder, right eye vision disorder, brain tumors, and sleep apnea have been denied.,New evidence has not been received to reopen the Veteran's claim of service connection for a left eye vision disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is not related to service or his service-connected PTSD, major depressive disorder, and cognitive disorder. The Board found no evidence linking the sleep apnea to any in-service event or exposure.

The Veteran's fibromyalgia is granted service connection as a presumptive condition due to his service in the Southwest Asia Theater of Operations during the Persian Gulf War. The Board also found that he has a separate and distinct back disability (DDD and DJD) related to his military service, but remanded for further examination. Service connection for sleep apnea was granted based on presumed exposure, and remanded for additional evidence. Migraine headaches were not rated initially as compensable.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the cause and aggravation of the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea by his service-connected PTSD and lumbar spine disability. The Veteran will need to provide additional medical records, including those from private treatment providers who have linked his sleep apnea to his service-connected conditions.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has decided that a remand is required for the Veteran's claim of service connection for sleep apnea, which he claims is secondary to his service-connected PTSD and depressive disorder. The VA medical opinion on this question was found to be inadequate.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted service connection. The claims for residuals of influenza, syncope, and sleep apnea are denied. Service connection for non-reversible obstructive lung disease of uncertain etiology is granted at a 100% rating.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and entitlement to a higher rating for PTSD. The Veteran is seeking service connection for both conditions based on in-service exposure to Agent Orange.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings and effective dates is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and records. The issues of TDIU are also inextricably intertwined with the rating claims.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is granted as secondary to his service-connected right knee disability, hearing loss, and tinnitus.,Service connection for depressive disorder and anxiety disorder are granted. The Board finds that the acquired psychiatric disabilities are at least as likely as not aggravated by his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's sleep apnea was granted an initial evaluation of 30 percent prior to July 23, 2014, and a 50 percent thereafter.

The Board denied service connection for renal cancer and sleep apnea, finding no evidence of in-service injury or disease that could be linked to the current conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea and diabetes mellitus type II (DMII) as secondary to the Veteran's lack of exercise due to his service-connected degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a respiratory disability, PVD of the bilateral lower extremities, cervical spine disability, and radiculopathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities has been reopened. Effective September 26, 2014, the Veteran is granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board found clear and unmistakable error in the June 1972 rating decision that denied service connection for retinitis pigmentosa, as there was no clear and unmistakable evidence that it pre-existed service or was aggravated by service. The Veteran's condition is presumed to have been incurred during service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were remanded due to insufficient evidence. The denial of respiratory disorder service connection is upheld.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of sufficient rationale in the previous opinion linking obstructive sleep apnea to asbestos exposure. The Veteran's claim for service connection is now pending and will be reconsidered.