Sleep apnea decisions — 2018

The Board has decided to remand the claims for OSA and PTSD due to outstanding VA treatment records, potential Vet Center records, and need for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's lumbosacral spondylosis disability is being remanded for additional examination to assess the current severity of his condition.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence to support the Veteran's claims for service connection of various conditions, including sleep disorder, hypertension, right eye disorder, heart disorder, kidney disorder, and acquired psychiatric disorders. The cases are being remanded for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's sleep apnea and whether it is related to service-connected psychiatric disability. The claim will be returned for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of his low back disability, sleep apnea, and psychiatric disabilities. The VA is required to provide examinations or obtain medical opinions in order to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for deviated septum, left concha bullosa as secondary to deviated septum, right nasal polyps as secondary to deviated septum, and sleep apnea as secondary to deviated septum. Service connection for hypertension and heart disability is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a sleep disorder secondary to his back pain, rating of his lumbar spine disability, and TDIU claim due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Board has not decided the service connection claims for all conditions, as some issues were granted and others denied. The Veteran's claim of service connection for a fungal infection of the ears was reopened but denied due to lack of current evidence. Claims for tinnitus, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), hypertension, stomach condition, and skin condition (toenail fungus) were not reopened as there was no new and material evidence.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral eye disability is denied. The Board found no current evidence of a compensable eye disability and the medical opinion was not prejudicial to the Veteran.

The Board has granted service connection for arthrosis of the lumbar spine, left knee disorder, and right knee disorder. Service connection for insomnia as a manifestation of PTSD is also granted. The claims for hypertension, headaches, pulmonary disability, sleep apnea, and diabetes mellitus are remanded due to lack of definitive opinions.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for depressive disorder NOS, thoracic dextro scoliosis, lower back disorder, IBS, GERD and DJD of the bilateral knees. The Veteran's current acquired psychiatric disorders are related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's low back injury with lumbosacral strain and traumatic arthritis is rated at 40 percent prior to October 31, 2012. From that date, the disability remains rated at 40 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea likely began during his military service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder is granted as secondary to his service-connected PTSD. The claim for sleep apnea is remanded due to the need for a medical opinion.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination and issuing a Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC). The Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is being reviewed again.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including psychiatric disorder, left shoulder disorder, right shoulder disorder, neck disorder, low back disorder, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, sinus congestion (allergy syndrome), and obstructive sleep apnea were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of current disability or etiology for these conditions.,The Veteran's claim for temporary total rating due to surgical treatment and convalescence of the right knee disability was also denied.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for a right shoulder disability has been denied due to lack of new and material evidence. The VA is remanding the cases related to his left leg radiculopathy, right leg radiculopathy, scar associated with status-post discectomy of lumbar spine with DDD, TDIU, left knee disability, obstructive sleep apnea, and PTSD.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as there is no current diagnosis of this condition, and thus no basis to grant it.

The Veteran's appeal for right knee arthritis is dismissed as he withdrew his claim.,Service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, and sleep apnea are denied due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service or exposure to herbicides. Service connection for tinnitus is granted based on the Veteran's credible testimony regarding its onset during service.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea is related to his active duty service.