Sleep apnea decisions — 2018

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board has remanded his claims for service connection for OSA as secondary to PTSD and TDIU.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine condition, OSA, and PTSD due to new evidence received after his previous final denial. The RO must obtain National Guard service treatment records, private medical records, and lay statements from family members and fellow veterans who observed symptoms during service.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise and resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran withdrew her appeals for the issues of service connection for various conditions, including back disorder, right hip disorder, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, allergic rhinitis, obstructive sleep apnea, hyperglycemia, alopecia, obesity, carpal tunnel syndrome of the wrists. Service connection was granted for Other Specified Trauma- and Stressor-Related Disorder.

The Board has remanded the issue of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to August 30, 2017 due to service-connected low back disability for further consideration.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbosacral strain and neuropathy in both lower extremities, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability related to the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's current sleep apnea is considered a continuation of symptoms first manifested during service, and the Board finds that it was incurred in service. Therefore, service connection for sleep apnea is granted.

The Veteran's service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is granted as his current diagnosis and in-service symptoms are supported by medical evidence.

The Board denied an initial compensable rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss and remanded the issues of service connection for status post first MTP arthroplasty, left foot; obstructive sleep apnea; and a higher rating for mild left knee tricompartmental DJD.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for GERD and sleep apnea due to insufficient evidence regarding their onset during service. The case is sent back for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's service connection claim for obstructive sleep apnea is remanded due to the need for a VA examination and consideration of his in-service exposure.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for glaucoma, obstructive sleep apnea, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), sexual dysfunction, PTSD, migraines, and pancreatitis due to additional development being required.

The Board has reopened the claim of entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea and determined that it is related to the Veteran's military service. The Veteran's current sleep apnea disability is related to his weight gain during service, which occurred while he was in active duty.

The Board is remanding the issues of service connection for low back disability and bilateral knee disability due to inadequate reasoning in previous VA examinations.,The Board is also remanding the issue of service connection for a respiratory disorder other than OSA, including COPD, due to inadequate reasoning in previous VA examinations.,The Board is remanding the issue of service connection for a skin disability due to inadequate reasoning in previous VA examinations.,The Board is also remanding the issues of service connection for sleep disorder and anxiety disorder both related to PTSD due to inadequate reasoning in previous VA examinations.,The Board is further remanding the issue of rating greater than 10 percent for GERD due to inadequate reasoning in previous VA examinations.

The petition to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for PTSD and Adjustment Disorder is granted. The case is remanded for further examination and opinion regarding Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

The Board has granted the reopening of the Veteran's claim for service connection for a neck condition characterized as degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine. The issues of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and heart block are remanded.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for sleep apnea, finding that his current condition had its onset during active duty and is related to service.

The Veteran's bilateral hand pain is granted as service connection due to an undiagnosed illness. The claims for left and right hip disabilities, eye disability (blepharitis), sleep apnea, gastritis, and dermatitis are all denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea has been granted.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded and will be reviewed again.

The Veteran's erectile dysfunction, low back pain, bilateral hip disorder, right knee pain, sleep apnea, and migraine headaches are all granted as secondary to his service-connected psychiatric disabilities.