Sleep apnea decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left heel spur and obstructive sleep apnea is remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions on secondary service connection.

The Board denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and hypertension, finding that the preponderance of evidence did not support a link to service.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for sleep apnea due to incomplete examination and lack of recent VA treatment records. The Veteran's lay statements indicate he experienced symptoms prior to service, but there is no evidence in the claims file that supports this. A new VA examination is needed to determine if his current sleep apnea disability had its onset during active service or elsewhere.

The Veteran's claims for prostate cancer, asthma, sleep apnea with asthma, and sinusitis are being remanded due to the addition of new evidence. The RO will review this evidence and issue a supplemental statement of the case (SSOC).

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's current sleep apnea is not related to his in-service nasal trauma and surgeries. The VA examiner opined that the septal deviation and septoplasty did not cause or worsen the Veteran's later diagnosed sleep apnea.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, depression) due to the need for further examination.

The Board has denied service connection for an irregular heartbeat and erectile dysfunction (ED). The claims of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen a claim for service connection for a sinus disability, service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, and service connection for sleep apnea are remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's neck disability is not etiologically related to active service, as a chronic neck disability was not present in service and did not manifest to a compensable degree within one year of service discharge. The most probative evidence does not relate the Veteran's neck disability to his active service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals on the issues of obstructive sleep apnea, chronic fatigue syndrome, and headaches before a decision was made by the Board.

The Board has dismissed all appeals regarding service connection for various disabilities, including left and right shoulder disabilities, obstructive sleep apnea, heart disability (CAD), left and right wrist disabilities, and paralysis of the median nerve. The Veteran withdrew his appeals for these issues during a videoconference hearing.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for his service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine is remanded due to insufficient evidence and need for updated VA examination.

The Veteran's hypertension, left ankle sprain with degenerative joint disease, and exercise-induced anaphylaxis with allergic rhinitis are all granted. The rating for the left ankle sprain is increased to 10 percent. The Veteran's service-connected exercise-induced anaphylaxis with allergic rhinitis is granted at a higher rate of 100 percent prior to October 13, 2011. Service connection for sleep apnea remains pending and requires further evaluation.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for increased ratings for lumbosacral strain, patellofemoral syndrome with bursitis and degenerative changes of the right knee, and recurrent sinusitis. The appeal for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) is remanded.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals regarding service connection for hypertensive heart disease, hypertension (HTN), and supraventricular arrhythmia. The appeal of service connection for OSA was remanded due to insufficient evidence. Service connection for cardiac ischemia is also remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to insufficient medical evidence and need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates earlier than August 26, 2012 for service connection were denied.,The Veteran's claims for initial compensable ratings and increased ratings for various disabilities were remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased evaluation of his obstructive sleep apnea has been dismissed as he requested withdrawal in writing.

The Veteran's initial increased ratings for lumbosacral facet arthritis with thoracolumbar DDD and cervical spine DDD have been denied as her conditions do not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable VA rating schedule.

The Board has denied service connection for cardiovascular disease and remanded the issues of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy. The decision is pending further examination and opinion.

The Board has determined that further medical examination and opinion are needed to determine the nature and etiology of sleep apnea, right shoulder disability, and left thumb nerve and/or ligament disability. The appeals for these conditions will be remanded.