Sleep apnea decisions — 2018

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection and higher disability ratings related to various conditions, including left lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy, left knee chondromalacia and osteoarthritis, and lumbosacral spine degenerative disc disease and IVDS. The issues of service connection for bladder dysfunction and bowel dysfunction secondary to these disabilities were remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected type II diabetes mellitus.

The Board has remanded the case due to the inextricability of the sleep apnea and ALS claims. The examiner will need to provide an opinion on whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is caused or aggravated by his service-connected unspecified trauma and stressor-related disorder.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, and the Board has remanded them to obtain additional evidence and determine if a current respiratory disability or sleep apnea is related to service.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and sleep apnea due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran. The case is now pending further development.

The Board has received additional relevant evidence and is remanding the cases for readjudication.

The Veteran's skin disability, manifested by a right foot wart/corn and hand punctate pits, has resulted in pain and tenderness. Prior to February 22, 2018, the Veteran's CAD was not manifested by a workload of less than 5 metabolic equivalents resulting in dyspnea, fatigue, angina, dizziness, or syncope; there was no evidence of acute congestive heart failure; and left ventricular ejection fraction remained at 55 percent or higher. From February 22, 2018, onward, the Veteran's CAD was manifested by a workload of between 3 and 5 metabolic equivalents, which resulted in dyspnea, fatigue, and angina.,The criteria for entitlement to a TDIU have been met since May 1, 2015.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea, cervical spine disability, and low back disability are not related to service. The claims for these conditions have been denied.

The Board has denied service connection for hypertension and erythrocytosis (high red blood cell count), but granted service connection for steroid-induced rosacea. The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea, but remanded the issue of service connection for sinusitis due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea has been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. However, the claim is denied as there is no probative evidence linking his current diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea to his active service.

The Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy is rated at a 60 percent disability rating, effective from the date of this decision. The issue of entitlement to TDIU has been remanded for further development.

The claim of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea has been reopened, but the appeal is remanded due to insufficient medical evidence. The Veteran's lumbar microdiskectomy case is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases of sleep apnea and left knee disability for further development.

All issues are remanded for further development and examination. The Veteran's hypertension is being examined to determine if it is related to his service-connected psychiatric disability. His erectile dysfunction claim will be addressed as well.,The Veteran’s sleep apnea may need a more specialized examiner due to its complexity, and the relationship between his PTSD and sleep apnea needs clarification.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD is dismissed. The issue of service connection for sleep apnea is remanded to the AOJ.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome and sleep apnea, finding that the evidence did not support a link to service or service-connected conditions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for thyroid disorder, obstructive sleep apnea, and heart disorder. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to military service or any presumptive exposure.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings of chronic lumbosacral strain, cervical spondylosis, and residuals of Morton's neuroma, left foot due to incomplete records and need for further examination.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a muscle disability and obstructive sleep apnea due to exposure to burn pits, as well as fatigue. The Veteran's claims are pending further examination and development.