Sleep apnea decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded cases for further examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's lumbar spine, cervical spine, and related neurological disabilities. The issues of service connection remain pending.

The Board denied payment or reimbursement for unauthorized medical expenses incurred at MPNBH on August 17, 2015, as the Veteran's condition was not of such a nature that a prudent layperson would have reasonably expected delay in seeking immediate medical attention to be hazardous to life or health.

The Board denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that the preponderance of evidence is against a link to active service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea has been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The Board finds that it is at least as likely as not that his sleep apnea began during military service, specifically from repeated interrupted sleep while in Iraq.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of sleep apnea and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome and sleep apnea, finding no current diagnosis of these conditions. The Board also found that there was insufficient evidence to support a claim for secondary service connection for sleep apnea.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient evidence for service connection of various conditions, including hypertension, a left-hand condition, sleep apnea, headaches, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The Veteran will need to provide updated medical records and undergo examinations to support his claims.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for asthma is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining more recent VA treatment records and scheduling a respiratory examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for sleep apnea, heart disease, and headaches due to inadequate opinions in previous VA examinations.

The Veteran's sleep apnea was not incurred in service and is not related to his service-connected TBI. The Board found no evidence linking the obesity that led to the sleep apnea to any of his service-connected conditions.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of a right ankle inversion injury and obstructive sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's current symptoms did not stem from his in-service injuries or conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and maintaining all forms of substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea is at least as likely as not related to his time in service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The claim has been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The appeal is granted for service connection for a back disorder, but the other issues remain remanded.

The Veteran's sleep apnea was diagnosed during his active duty service and has continued since then. The Board finds that the Veteran's current sleep apnea is related to his in-service diagnosis, thus granting service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD and anxiety. The evidence shows that the Veteran's sleep disturbances are at least as likely as not due to his PTSD, which is a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's claim for a 100% rating for service-connected coronary atherosclerotic heart disease is granted from November 12, 2012 to February 13, 2013. The issues of service connection for sleep apnea disability and restless leg syndrome are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disorder is denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea is denied.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and alcohol dependence with alcohol induced mood disorder are granted.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions were denied, with the effective date being October 11, 2013.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and diabetes due to a lack of medical examination. The Veteran is currently in receipt of service connection for PTSD and hypertension.