Sleep apnea decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and to obtain additional medical opinions. The Veteran's claims for service connection are not granted at this time.

The Board has denied service connection for gout and remanded the issue of service connection for a lumbosacral spine disability.

The Veteran's claim is remanded for additional development on several issues, including service connection for various conditions and a separate rating for right hand scars.

The Veteran's spine disability was granted a 20% rating from August 14, 2017 to May 2, 2018. The condition did not meet the criteria for higher ratings at any time.

Service connection is denied for hearing loss, tinnitus, breathing issues, and sleep apnea as there is no evidence of a current disability or a relationship to service.,Hypertension was not incurred in or aggravated by active military service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and acquired psychiatric condition (including PTSD and depression) due to insufficient medical evidence. The claims will be further developed by obtaining current treatment records, scheduling VA examinations, and clarifying diagnoses.

The Board has determined that additional VA examinations are needed to assess the current severity of the Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine and right lower extremity radiculopathy, as well as his entitlement to a TDIU. The examinations will also determine if there is any new evidence warranting reopening of previously denied claims.

The Board has determined that the claims for service connection and increased ratings are inextricably intertwined with other issues, including TDIU. The Veteran's depression is remanded for a new opinion on causation and aggravation. His cervical and lumbar spine conditions, bilateral knee disabilities, and OSA are also remanded for additional examinations to determine etiology and severity.

The claim for service connection of obstructive sleep apnea is remanded due to the need for a VA examination and opinion regarding aggravation during active duty.

Service connection for OSA is denied. An increased rating of 10 percent for GERD with IBS is granted, subject to laws and regulations governing payment of monetary benefits. A compensable rating for left little finger fracture is denied. Prior to May 20, 2014, a rating in excess of 10 percent for lumbar spine disability is denied. Since May 20, 2014, a rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbar spine disability is denied. An increased rating of 20 percent for neurological manifestations of right lower extremity secondary to lumbar spine disability is granted. A rating in excess of 10 percent for neurological manifestations of left lower extremity secondary to lumbar spine disability is granted, subject to laws and regulations governing payment of monetary benefits.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, but has remanded the issues of service connection for OSA and an acquired mental disorder due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for right shoulder impingement syndrome, lumbosacral spondylosis, and central serous retinopathy of the left eye have been dismissed.,The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for the grant of a separate rating for laxity of the left knee has also been dismissed.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling examinations to assess his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and coronary artery disease with ischemic cardiomyopathy, as well as a higher rating for his right knee disability, are being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and examination. The TDIU claim is also inextricably intertwined and will be remanded concurrently.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is granted as his current diagnosis and in-service symptoms support the finding of a nexus.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for pulmonary condition, chronic bronchitis, and sleep apnea due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran is required to provide authorization for VA to obtain his private treatment records from New Beginning, and a new VA examination will be scheduled to address the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for lumbosacral strain with degenerative changes is denied. The cervical spine disability and bilateral hearing loss issues are remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a respiratory condition and hypertension, finding that there was no evidence of chronicity or aggravation beyond natural progression. The case is remanded to obtain an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's hypertension.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for hypertension has been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal prior to a decision. The Board also remanded the issue of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea due to insufficient evidence.