Sleep apnea decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including for right lumbar myositis (low back condition), a left knee condition, obstructive sleep apnea, scars of the right flank, migraine headaches, right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, nasal pterygium right eye with bilateral borderline intraocular pressure, diabetes mellitus, type II, and insomnia disorder.

The Board denied service connection for left ring finger disability and remanded the issue of service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine.

The Board denied reopening of the claims for service connection for a right eye disability, gout/gouty arthritis, DM with neuropathy, sleep apnea, and sore heels due to lack of new and material evidence. The Veteran's claim for service connection for sore heels was also denied as there is no medical evidence linking his current heel pain to service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development regarding service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and TDIU due to service-connected disability.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbosacral spine strain and posttraumatic stress disorder due to incomplete VA examination records and lack of Social Security Administration (SSA) records.

The Veteran's service connection for supraventricular tachycardia and sleep apnea is granted, with the exception of the latter issue which requires further examination.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected Graves' Disease with hypothyroidism. The appeal for service connection for depression was dismissed.

The Board has denied service connection for obesity as it is not a disease or injury for which service connection may be established. The Veteran's claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus, sleep apnea, left sciatic nerve disability, and depression are remanded due to missing medical records and the need for VA examinations.

The Veteran's lumbosacral plexopathy and bilateral foot disorder are being remanded for further evaluation due to the need for a new VA medical opinion regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms are worsening and need to be evaluated again. The nature and etiology of his hypertension will also be clarified.,The Veteran needs a VA examination to determine if his hypertension is related to service. His sleep apnea and ankle/knee/hip disorders may also require clarification regarding their relationship to service.,VA examinations are needed for the Veteran's right and left ankle disorders, right and left knee disorders, left hip disorder, and shortening of the left leg.,The Veteran's TDIU claim is inextricably intertwined with these other claims and must be deferred until they are resolved.

The Veteran's previously denied service connection claims for a chronic respiratory disorder, skin disorders, left knee strain, sleep disorder, gastrointestinal distress, fatigue, and muscular and joint pain are all granted. The appeals have been remanded for additional medical opinions on the relationship between these conditions and service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea was aggravated by his service-connected PTSD, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to incomplete records and the need for further medical opinions regarding the relationship between his service-connected disabilities and his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's sleep apnea and tinnitus were not found to be related to service.,Fatigue, headaches (claimed as migraine headaches), and an acquired psychiatric disability have been remanded for further examination.

The Board has granted service connection for sinusitis but denied separate disability ratings for OSA and asthma, and remanded the issues of initial compensable ratings for left and right knee chondromalacia.

Service connection for prostate cancer and diabetes mellitus, type 2 is granted. Service connection for Hepatitis C is granted with a rating of 40 percent effective January 1, 2017. The reduction from 40 percent to 10 percent was improper.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea began during his active service and grants the claim for service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for ischemic heart disease due to herbicide exposure, but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and obstructive sleep apnea. The claims for reopening of service connection for headaches, back condition, appendicitis, cervical spine disorder, and lumbar spine disorder have been granted.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's sleep apnea is related to his service and whether it is caused by his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is dismissed.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are denied.