Sleep apnea decisions — 2018

The Veteran's gallbladder removal is denied as not related to his service-connected abdominal surgeries. The Veteran's postoperative residuals of abdominal surgeries, including recurrent ventral hernia, are currently rated at 50%.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims, including obtaining his service medical records and considering all relevant evidence. The Veteran's current disabilities are being remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim due to an inadequate August 2015 medical examination. The case will be returned for a new opinion that addresses all claimed in-service events, including lifting boxes and MVA.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for skeletal trauma, sleep apnea, cardiomyopathy, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, incontinence, and traumatic brain injury have all been denied.,There is no evidence of a current disability or any link to service for any of the conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for hemorrhoids and a psychiatric disorder. The remaining issues of service connection have been remanded due to incomplete development.

The Veteran's petition to reopen her claim of service connection for a lumbosacral strain was granted, and she is now entitled to service connection for this condition. The Board also found in favor of the Veteran on her secondary service connection claim for sciatic paralysis.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have been shown to preclude substantially gainful employment, and the Board finds that he is unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities on a schedular basis since March 11, 2008. The appeal for TDIU from February 28, 2008, to March 11, 2008, will be forwarded to the Director of Compensation and Pension Services for extraschedular consideration.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to assess the nature and etiology of the Veteran's sleep apnea, including whether it is related to his active service or secondary to his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and depression, bilateral tinnitus, excessive weight gain and obesity, diabetes mellitus, obstructive sleep apnea, bilateral pes planus, left index finger condition (not diagnosed), neck pain, lower back pain, COPD, dizziness, and chronic UTI and incontinence have been granted. The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss are denied.

The Board has decided to remand the cases due to insufficient medical evidence and missing records. The Veteran's sleep apnea claim is being reviewed again, as well as his PTSD rating and TDIU claims.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain is rated at 20 percent from January 10, 2017 and continuing thereafter. The Veteran's migraine headaches are rated at 50 percent since July 16, 2007.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) may be related to his service, but needs further evidence before a final decision can be made.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for personality disorder, claimed as passive aggressive personality passive aggressive type, manifested by abuse of drugs is reopened and granted. Other claims are also remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for obstructive sleep apnea and low back condition due to inadequate opinions from previous VA examiners. The Veteran needs new opinions on whether his conditions are related to service or secondary to other disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea but has remanded the issues of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a psychosis to establish eligibility for treatment under 38 U.S.C. § 1702.

The Board has dismissed all issues of service connection and evaluations due to the Veteran's request for withdrawal prior to a decision.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected orthopedic and sciatic disabilities caused his weight gain, which in turn led to obesity and obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lung condition and sleep apnea as secondary to a lung condition, finding that there was no current disability or evidence of in-service injury related to these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea. The cases of residuals of a left femur fracture and right eye disability are remanded due to insufficient medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for traumatic brain injury, respiratory disability (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), Parkinsonism, and obstructive sleep apnea due to a lack of competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service. The VA is directed to obtain relevant records from the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda and any other private records identified by the Veteran.