Sleep apnea decisions — 2018

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis began during active service and has continued since.

The Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for the grant of a 60 percent rating for degenerative arthritis of the lumbosacral spine and TDIU are denied as no earlier effective dates are assignable.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for PTSD and Sleep Apnea due to incomplete records and need for further medical evaluation.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims for service connection, including those involving hearing loss, tinnitus, hypertension, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), gastrointestinal disorders, GERD, erectile dysfunction, and a skin condition. The reasons include obtaining SSA records, scheduling examinations, and addressing whether these conditions are secondary to service-connected disabilities.,The Veteran's claims for service connection of OSA, GERD, gastrointestinal disorder, erectile dysfunction, and a skin condition have also been remanded.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for gastritis, gastroenteritis, small bowel obstruction/resection, enteritis with mucosal ulcerations, and Crohn’s disease. The evidence shows that the Veteran had symptoms of gastrointestinal issues during service and continues to have them post-service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of sleep apnea, finding that there is no evidence to support a causal link between his current condition and his active military service.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's sleep apnea may be related to his service, but needs further evidence to determine if it is due to an undiagnosed illness from Gulf War service or secondary to a pre-existing condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including headaches, hypertension, asthma, sleep apnea or a sleep disorder, and vision loss. The reasons given were that there was no evidence of these conditions during service or that they are not related to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's request to reopen a claim for service connection for tinnitus has been granted. Service connection is also granted for the acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and anxiety disorder. The claims for TBI, left shoulder disability, lumbar spine condition, left knee disability, sleep disorder, and GERD are all remanded.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, sleep apnea, and depressive disorder were denied. The Veteran was granted service connection for migraine headaches as secondary to his service-connected tinnitus. Service connection for a right shoulder disability was granted with an initial rating of 30 percent effective March 14, 2011.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for a psychiatric disorder and remanded other claims due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran.,The Board denied service connection for bilateral hip disability, obstructive sleep apnea, and cervical spine disability. The Board also remanded issues related to increased rating for cervicogenic headaches and TDIU.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions have been reopened and are being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for a respiratory disorder, obstructive sleep apnea, and acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and insomnia) have been denied. The Board found that the evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to service or any presumptive exposure.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea and interstitial lung disease. The Veteran is required to provide additional medical evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for a right shoulder disorder, bilateral hip disorder, and sleep apnea. The appeal regarding the left shoulder disorder is remanded.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for a lumbar spine disability is granted. The Board found that the Veteran's current back disability is at least as likely as not related to his military service, including an injury sustained in Germany. Service connection for sleep apnea is remanded and requires additional development.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for obstructive sleep apnea and psychiatric disorders due to incomplete records from SSA and VA. The Veteran's service connection claim will be further examined with a VA examination.

The Board found the reduction in rating from 40% to 10% for lumbosacral strain was proper, but remanded the issues of service connection for a cervical spine condition and increased rating for lumbosacral strain.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the submission of new evidence and requests for a personal hearing.